Everyone can be a winner this year during L-Istrina as all those who phone in to donate Lm5 or Lm10 during the national fund-raising event are guaranteed a voucher of Lm35 or Lm45 respectively.

"We wanted to push the value of solidarity and wanted to create a system in which everyone is a winner... What we are saying is that we appreciate people's donations and are trying to give them something back," L-Istrina coordinator Gordon Pace said.

At the same time, this year companies who gave donations did so on the understanding that this would not necessarily translate into a public mention during the programme, he said. This would emphasise that the companies were donating because they wanted to help people.

L-Istrina will be aired on TVM, One TV and Net TV on December 29 and will be hosted by Peppi Azzopardi and Valerie Vella.

Mr Pace explained that all those who phone in to donate Lm5 will receive a Lm35 voucher and those who donate Lm10 will receive a Lm45 voucher. The vouchers do not apply to other forms of donation.

When the individual receives the itemised phone bill that lists the donation, the bill can then be used to redeem the voucher from one or a number of participating outlets to be revealed at a later stage. The donors will still be eligible to win prizes during the marathon.