As members of the European Parliament, every year we are invited to nominate a candidate for the European Citizens Award, a highly valued prize organised by the European Parliament to recognise the exceptional achievements of European citizens in fostering closer integration among themselves and promoting the values found in the European Union’s Charter of fundamental rights.
Last year’s award went to Mgr Victor Grech, a pioneering figure in Caritas Malta who has played an important role in building the strong network of social services in Malta that we enjoy today. Through his unstinting work he has changed the way in which Maltese society tackles issues such as drugs, alcoholism, poverty and social injustice.
The Puttinu Cares group of volunteers has shown how citizens can effectively unite to work together for a just and spiritually rewarding cause
While it rightly underscores the European tag to it, the award is also a tribute to the true human spirit in whichever form or substance it is portrayed and wherever it occurs.
While last year’s nomination from Malta featured the figure of Mgr Grech for his individual and representative work within Caritas, this year’s deservedly goes to the highly-motivated representative group of brave individuals within the Puttinu Cares group of volunteers.
Describing, in my nomination, the group’s action during the last few years to merit the award was a no-brainer.
Puttinu Cares Children’s Cancer Support Group, a non-governmental, non-profit making organisation, was officially set up in 2002.
Since those very first years, the group’s main aims have included advocacy on behalf of affected children and their families by representing their needs; campaigning for a coordinated network of care and support; promoting models of good care and practice; supporting families; enhancing the knowledge and skills of carers; assisting affected children by improving the environment in which they are treated and raising funds.
Eight years ago, it was wisely decided that children with cancer should be nursed in a separate unit, hence, the new Paediatric Oncology Unit where loving parents and caring volunteers have created a pleasant environment and sponsors provided all the electronic gadgets so beloved of children.
The Puttinu Cares team also guides parents to deal with the ordeal ahead, offering help when families often need to go abroad for further treatment.
For this purpose, Puttinu Cares has purchased three apartments within walking distance of the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
Many activities are organised by Puttinu Cares to help these children forget their illness for a short while, such as fun runs, dives, swimming and football marathons away from the hospital environment.
Funds are also collected to purchase equipment and expensive or unavailable drugs required for the child.
It is, therefore, with honest pride and humility that I play my small part in nominating Puttinu Cares for this year’s European Citizens Award.
I hasten to add, with much satisfaction, that the nomination is a combined initiative with my MEP colleague from the Nationalist Party, David Casa, and, as such, is anencouraging reflection of the maturity and bipartisanship so much needed to promote national unity.
The Puttinu Cares group of volunteers has shown how citizens can effectively unite to work together for a just and spiritually rewarding cause.
The social impact of their work is no less important because it, no doubt, sends the right message, that is, the need for modern society to face up to problems in life, family health and well-being with fortitude, serenity and inspiration.
Their work speaks for itself.
The joy and the courage they induce in parents and children alike go beyond the limitations of any award they can receive.
However, the recognition that the Puttinu Cares group rightly deserves would, no doubt, go a very long way towards presenting such a noble project as the ideal initiative within a caring European society.
joseph@josephcuschieri.com
Joseph Cuschieri is a Labour member of the European Parliament .