Process starts to choose beneficiaries from among 77 applicants

The selection process to choose the beneficiaries for this year's annual TV charity marathon L-Istrina from among 77 applicants has been launched by a PBS-appointed committee.

This year's 12-hour marathon fund-raiser - starting at midday - will be held at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta' Qali on December 30. This will be the 10th edition.

One main difference from previous editions of L-Istrina will be the absence of Peppi Azzopardi, who has presented the fund-raiser for a number of years.

Instead, three women will present the charity event - Antonella Vassallo from PBS, Louise Tedesco from Net Television and Svetlana Muscat from One Television.

Although he has withdrawn from organising the event, Mr Azzopardi is still helping out. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Mr Azzopardi appealed to people to be generous and expressed confidence that this year's event would be a success.

The PBS chairman's assistant, Andrew Psaila - who is chairing the organising team made up of various entities - said the two political television stations have pledged to work with the fund raiser's production team.

Unlike previous years, the team has not set a target amount for this year's event.

President Eddie Fenech Adami stressed that everyone should understand the importance of L-Istrina and recognise that its success lies in their hands.

He pointed out that the Malta Community Chest Fund, which is the main beneficiary of L-Istrina, receives several requests for help from people in need. He said the organisation did a lot to help the country.