Walking on water will become possible this weekend during a series of fund-raising sports events being held to help children who suffer from cancer.
All it takes is climbing into a large air-filled water ball at the National Sports Complex's pool and, although no miracle, it may help create something close to one - a smile on the face of a child suffering from cancer.
For the past years this has been the mission of the Puttinu Cares Foundation, a voluntary organisation that helps children with cancer. On Sunday, the complex at Tal-Qroqq will be open to the public in aid of the foundation.
Meanwhile, Puttinu will be holding its fifth fund-raising football marathon at the Marsa Sports Ground this weekend.
The foundation still owes €470,000 on the three apartments it bought in Sutton, London, for €1.2 million, to accommodate relatives of children being treated at the Royal Marsden cancer hospital.
Puttinu activity coordinator Rennie Zerafa said the foundation also received appeals for help from adults seeking treatment at the same hospital.
"We could not turn them down so we rented another three apartments in the same block... Although our priority remains helping children, we wish to work towards extending to others the help we give," Mr Zerafa said.
Every year about 15 children with cancer enter Mater Dei Hospital's Rainbow Ward where between 75 and 80 per cent of the young patients recover.
Puttinu's president Victor Calvagna said that while treatment at Malta's hospital had improved, some patients still had to travel to London where treatment was more specialised.
Puttinu's fifth football marathon, themed Treating Each Patient with Dignity, will help ensure these children and their families do not have to worry about accommodation expenses while in London.
The marathon starts today with a kick-off at 10 a.m. by President George Abela and a child. About 700 football teams will be taking part in the 60-hour tournament that will run until Sunday at 10 p.m.
Children will be treated to several events such as face painting, a dog show, a puppet show, jugglers and much more.
The evenings, after 6 p.m., will mainly target adults with an array of performances by local singers and bands.
On Sunday, the open day at the National Sports Complex will be targeted at those who prefer other forms of sport to football.
People will be able to use the Olympic and diving pool, squash courts and the fitness centre. The public will be treated to various activities such as canoe polo, a water polo tournament and hip-hop and aerobics classes apart from the water ball.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation through their telephone land line can call 5004 9543 to donate €7; 5004 9545 for €11; 5004 9540 for €23; or send a text message to 5061 7380 to donate €2.33; 5061 8939 for €6.99; 5061 9225 for €11.65.