Edenfest '06 - 12 hours of information and entertainment

The fourth annual Edenfest, themed "Successes - all thanks to your help", will be held on September 24 between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. at the Eden Foundation Complex, Bulebel. It will be televised live, on all stations, and is intended to raise money for the Eden Foundation, which helps people of all ages, including children, with disabilities.

This year's marathon programme will be relaying the message of how many mentally disabled children, through education and therapy, are also able to achieve successes, thanks to people's generous financial support and help. Most of these children attend normal schools, an idea which originated from the Eden Foundation, where young men and women, also with disabilities, educate themselves and seek employment.

"Thanks to The Eden Foundation, 100 young men and women have been educated and are now in the work place. They all used to receive the disability pension, and are today working and making their own living, and they contribute to society by paying the required taxes and stamps," Robert Farrugia of the Eden Foundation said at the launch of Edenfest'06.

"This has all been made possible with your help. By helping the Eden Foundation in the past, you have helped 400 children with mental disability and 100 young men and women to find employment. The Eden Foundation is not a government institution and consequently it depends totally on the generosity and donations received by the Maltese and Gozitan population - Everybody according to his means. We are grateful to everybody who in some way or another has helped these children educate and improve themselves.

"This year we can once again collect another good sum of money, like last year. It's only in this way that we can continue helping these people who are really in need. Show your generosity and your love," he added.

Throughout this year's marathon, more than Lm100,000 in gifts - ranging from cars, and plasma screens, to furniture to flights - will be given away. Hosted by Eileen Montesin, Joseph Chetcuti and Romilda Zarb, the Foundation will be open to the public to visit and see all the benefits these children and adults receive.

Apart from this, the garden of the Eden Foundation will be converted into a large square with games for all ages, bands, exhibitions, food and drinks for all the family. The 3-4U campaign has partnered with the Eden Foundation and, during Edenfest '06, individuals and companies can plant a tree to commemorate the occasion.

For more information contact Robert Farrugia on 2366-1305.