Hypnotist helps raise Lm49,000

The spellbinding antics of hypnotist Alan Bates have left Lm49,000 in Razzett tal-Hbiberija's coffers, the organisation said yesterday.

The money was raised thanks to a special edition of Xarabank and two seminars to encourage people to stop smoking and eat healthily, all courtesy of the British hypnotist.

The money will be invested in the disability services, the main department at Razzett, which caters for over 1,000 non-paying clients who have a disability. The services include leisure education and therapeutic services.

Nathan Farrugia, chief executive officer of the Razzett, was ecstatic about the money raised. "This fund-raiser has allowed us to concentrate on our programmes and invest in a new assessment method," he said.

"We already have the expertise to offer professional services to adults and children with disability and we can invest in developing more complex assessment systems and progress reports to further improve the mind, body and social integration of persons with a disability."