President Guido de Marco yesterday launched an appeal for everyone to show solidarity and participate wholeheartedly in the annual Christmas charity programme l-Istrina.

"Let me make one thing clear, l-Istrina is for everybody," Prof. de Marco said at a press conference to launch the event to be held on December 28 on PBS between 1 p.m. and midnight.

"The money raised during l-Istrina will go towards those who are marginalised and less fortunate than ourselves," he said.

Last year, the organisers, Where's Everybody?, collected a record sum of Lm476,000 and they are hoping to beat this amount this time round to help five charities.

This year's main beneficiary is the Malta Community Chest Fund which will receive 50 per cent of all the proceeds. Another 20 per cent will go to Razzett tal-Hbiberija, 20 per cent to the Life Cycle for the renal unit, five per cent to Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu and another five per cent to the Jesuits Refugee Service in aid of Brazilian children suffering from Aids.

Prizes this year include eight cars, a one-carat diamond, a luxury Berloni kitchen and a Playstation 2 complete with the latest Harry Potter games.

Up until yesterday, the organisers had managed to guarantee Lm25,000 worth of prizes for those who donate money during l-Istrina.

Companies are also being encouraged to donate a percentage of their sales to l-Istrina and give their Christmas message on the programme rather than spending money on Christmas cards.

The Labour Party has, for the second consecutive year, chosen not to take part in the programme as part of its boycott of Where's Everybody?.

Instead, Super One Television will be holding its own fundraising event just on the eve of l-Istrina at the Bay Street Complex, in St George's Bay.

The four charities which will benefit from this event are Daritama, in Cospicua, Dar il-Wens, Paola, Dar Nazzaret, Zejtun and the Arka Foundation, in Gozo.

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