Funds raised far exceed charities' expectations

The record sum of Lm882,000 raised during L-Istrina has gone beyond the wildest expectations of the charities set to benefit from the donations. They have revised their wish list to include projects which they had only dreamt of.

This year the Malta Community Chest Fund is receiving 50 per cent of the proceeds, Razzett tal-Hbiberija 20 per cent, Life Cycle, for the renal unit, another 20 per cent, and Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu and the Jesuits Refugee Service five per cent each.

Speaking on behalf of the community chest fund, President Guido de Marco said he never dreamed that L-Istrina would break last year's record sum of Lm476,000 - let alone nearly double this amount.

"It's an incredible feat and I was very touched - it strengthened my belief that Malta is one big family. L-Istrina united the island irrespective of any differences," he said.

Prof. de Marco said the amount collected placed more responsibility on the shoulders of the chest fund which now had to study how to further extend its services in the field of social welfare.

"The MCCF is already doing a splendid job, but we now have to determine how we reach those we could never help before," he said.

"Sometimes those who are most in need suffer in silence. We have to delve deep into these matters to ensure the funds are distributed well and those in need get the help they deserve," he added.

Prof. de Marco thanked Peppi Azzopardi and his formidable team of Where's Everybody? for their boundless energy, as well as all the volunteers.

Life Cycle chairperson Anna Miggiani was ecstatic with the amount and said they could now afford to buy five brand new dialysis machines, whereas before they could only afford second-hand machines.

"With this record amount we are now making a shopping list of things we had not dreamt of getting," she said.

Razzett tal-Hbiberija general manager Nathan Farrugia said he was amazed at the hard work put in by Where's Everybody? in organising L-Istrina.

"We assisted by providing our own volunteers and we were amazed at the work they did. We were slightly apprehensive that the political issue would affect the amount collected, but I have to say I am amazed at how much money was raised," he said.

The money will go towards starting the construction of the centre's new multi-sensory Snoezelen Room which will provide free therapy to children with cognitive and communicative disabilities.

"We will also give a boost to our free services while attempting to catch up with the running costs of the place. This year we had 15,000 visits to our programmes and the number of people using our services is on the increase," Mr Farrugia said.

Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta) director Fr Pierre Grech Marguerat also said the sum collected went beyond their expectations.

"This lovely sum can now allow us to pay the full salary of a social worker to work with refugees in Malta and those being held in detention," he said.

Fr Grech Marguerat also said the donations would help JRS to expand the services it already offers, by putting greater focus on social work and legal counselling.

Dun Gorg Grima of Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu said the record sum collected would now allow them to build a new home for the children dying of Aids in Brazil.

The sum will allow the movement to extend its help to those who are suffering from famine due to one of the worst droughts to hit Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the money continued coming in yesterday when 13 men braved the icy northwest winds and dived into the rough, cold sea along the quay in Sliema, raising Lm350.

The annual tradition is organised by the shipping and insurance company Thomas Smith.

Among the courageous swimmers was the President's ADC Major David Mifsud and sportsman and sportscaster Charlie Mock.

The event has its origins on Christmas eve of 1998 when Anton Buttigieg, general manager of Thomas Smith, was drinking and 'thinking' at the Plough and Anchor Pub in Sliema.

Mr Buttigieg said that they had already donated Lm300 to L-Istrina on Saturday and was happy with the additional amount collected during the traditional dive.