<i>L-Istrina</i> tops Lm1 million target

The ambitious target of Lm1 million set by the organisers of this year's annual charity fund-raising telethon L-Istrina was exceeded, setting a new record.

The magic figure was announced at one minute to midnight by Lou Bondì, and was greeted with scenes of incredible enthusiasm by those present under the marquee erected in the car park outside Television House in Guardamangia.

By midnight, when the 12-hour programme was supposed to end, Lm1,000,180 had been raised.

L-Istrina, produced by Where's Everybody, was yesterday shown as usual on TVM but also on the other major local channels, Super 1 and Net TV.

Fifteen organisations stand to benefit from the charity bonanza.

The programme started at noon with a choir led by Vince Fabri and a message from President Guido de Marco, who accompanied by Mrs de Marco was present throughout the programme, and made repeated appeals for donations. President de Marco is the chairman of the Community Chest Fund, which will receive half of the entire proceeds.

Messages were also given by other leading personalities including Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, who apart from a recorded message was also contacted by telephone , abroad, the Speaker Anton Tabone, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant and Archbishop Joseph Mercieca.

After four hours, the programme had already netted Lm309,939.

Last year, the programme netted just over Lm900,000 - this record was broken at around 10.45 p.m. yesterday.

The programme proved to be a gruelling marathon for presenters Peppi Azzopardi and Valerie Vella, who sweated it out, keeping track of the sequence of numerous spots and innumerable visitors to the studio.

Fun spots throughout the programme included a choir formed by Members of Parliament and led by President de Marco, Malta's Eurovision performers singing each other's songs, and numbers from Sister Act, The Full Monty and Fr Colin Apap turned ballerina.

While viewers where enticed to make donations by being shown valuable prizes - ranging from cars to jewellery, from furniture to household appliances and holidays abroad - they were presented with heart-breaking cases, mostly of young children who suffered from some form of physical or mental disability.

In all, Lm130,000 worth of gifts, were donated, including a shell-form maisonette in Gozo worth Lm30,000, eight cars, holidays abroad, weekend breaks, meal vouchers, fitted kitchens, kitchen appliances, a diamond solitaire, a bathroom, MMS phones, PlayStations and large toy cars.

Trolleys with goods sometimes worth over Lm1,000 were also won by callers every few minutes.

The first donation made was by HSBC, which started the ball rolling with a donation of Lm7,500. Other big donations were made by several organisations which collected the money beforehand from donations and other fund-raising events.

Singer and radio presenter Enzo Gusman, for example, held a nine-hour singing marathon on Friday night and AIESEC University students organised a car wash and donated the proceeds to l-Istrina. There was also a donation of Lm300 collected by inmates at the Corradino Correctional Facility, while members of the Police Force, led by Commissioner John Rizzo, donated Lm1,025.

Apart from donations over the telephone, a steady stream of people on their own initiative or on behalf of work colleagues and company directors went personally to the studio purposely put up under a large marquee erected at the PBS parking area.

The programme involved some 3,000 volunteers including VIPs led by President and Mrs Guido de Marco, who took calls for donations. Among those taking calls were Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.

Benefiting from l-Istrina this year are the Community Chest Fund (50 per cent), the Eden Foundation (12.5 per cent), Caritas (7.5 per cent), the Park of Friendship, Church Homes for the Elderly, YMCA and the Emigrants Commission (five per cent each), the Children's Cancer Support Group, the Millennium Chapel, Suret il-Bniedem, Daniel Delicata Memorial Association, Ghaqda Persuni Neqsin mis-Smigh, Daritama, Parroquia San Tomas Apostolo and the Ghana Mission Foundation (1.25 per cent each). A small percentage of the funds given to the CCF will be used for animal welfare.

An exhibition of paintings, sculptures and collectors' items have already been set up at St James Cavalier and all these will be auctioned during a special programme on Sunday, with all proceeds going towards l-Istrina.