Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa first began its fundraising efforts for Beyond the Moon back in 2005, and has since raised over €95,000 for the charity, which is headquartered in Belgium.

As a result of this effort, 12 Maltese families have been able to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime with their seriously-ill child, while a further eight families will be able to look forward to the experience in the months to come. Most recently, the hotel raised €5,000 on May 1, thanks to its popular Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Fair.

Coordinating the Corinthia Palace’s efforts throughout that time has been Marisa Xuereb, who has led the team through a number of activities, including multiple fairs, stands and staff teambuilding events.

Now, to mark her achievements, Beyond the Moon has chosen to appoint her as Malta’s ambassador to Beyond the Moon. This was announced at a recent celebration for Mrs Xuereb held at the Caprice Lounge.

Pascale Somers, the manager and co-founder for Beyond the Moon, travelled to Malta for the event. She said: “Marisa deserves this award. Her involvement goes beyond raising funds. She even looks for Maltese families with a sick child who are eligible for a Beyond the Moon vacation. She has done so much for so many people over the years and is a true example of what can be achieved by one person leading a fantastic team. We look forward to working with her for many years to come.”  

Also at the ceremony, Mrs Xuereb said: “I am so honoured and so touched to receive this award; it means so much. I treasure my work with Beyond the Moon, and am grateful to the whole team for helping me to achieve so much for this wonderful charity.”