Valletta woke up to 16 bleary-eyed individuals in a tangle of mattresses and guitar leads yesterday.

An interesting blend of TV personalities, athletes, singers, MPs and a random assortment of volunteers braved a chilly Friday night under the stars in an attempt to raise awareness and cash for the Maltese homeless, hosted at the YMCA shelter in Valletta.

As keen shoppers made it to Valletta by 8.30 a.m. yesterday, collection tins and a brief description of homelessness in Malta were sprung upon them by surprisingly energetic personalities. Passers-by offered a mixture of reactions to the mattresses and tousled hair, but the vast majority gladly donated as much as they could afford.

The most common reaction, however, was surprise at the fact that 300 Maltese people are homeless every day. The individual cases vary, as some find homes thanks to the assistance of associations and organisations, while others find themselves homeless following a series of unfortunate events.

High spirits and rattling tins persisted throughout the morning, and Republic Street was entertained by live music from Ira Losco and Vince Fabri, as well as a keep-fit event hosted by the tireless Doris Cusens and the Yada Fitness Factory instructors.