Close to €300,000 was raised by 8.30 p.m. last night for Id-Dar Tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi.

Various items were auctioned during the open-day, including a unique wooden sculpture by the late Anton Agius, several paintings, a football shirt from the film Escape to Victory signed by many of the stars, as well as signed photos from memorable concerts hosted in Malta last year.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi presented a donation of €24,818 to home director Fr Martin Micallef, derived from sales of the Concerto di Natale screened on Rai Due on Christmas Eve.

President George Abela was among dignitaries who paid a visit to the annual charity marathon screened direct on local television stations. The president said that all revenue raised from the upcoming Citrus Festival would also go towards the Siġġiewi home.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the residential home for the disabled, needs €13,000 to operate every day, or €3.5 million per year. It made a loss of just under €500,000 in 2009.

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