Mark Borg stares incredulously at the figure on his cheque. Following an appeal in The Sunday Times of Malta two weeks ago to help the wheelchair user acquire an electric mobility scooter, donations totalled €12,286.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that the Maltese would have contributed so heartily,” the humble 39-year-old says, eyes glistening.
“I’d like to thank all those who donated from the bottom of my heart. I am extremely grateful.”
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the Maltese would have contributed so heartily
Life has dealt Mr Borg multiple harsh blows. Following a gruelling battle with leukaemia which very nearly cost him his life in 2006 and which resulted in several complications including cataracts and painful pressure sores, Mr Borg ended up in a wheelchair in 2007 after radiotherapy affected him badly.
However, harder to endure than the debilitating illness was the fact that it caused him to miss out on a large chunk of his twin daughters’ childhood.
Now eight, the twins were only two weeks old when their father was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukaemia. Mr Borg spent the following two years in various hospitals.
Returning to the San Ġwann apartment he shared with his wife Emma after losing the ability to walk, the resilient man spent the first few months climbing up and down the 44 steps leading to his apartment using his arms until the lift was installed.
And despite having a lift, Mr Borg is still faced with the challenge of climbing one rather high step from the pavement to his main door, and a further six steps to reach the landing where the lift is. His greatest wish was to acquire an electric scooter, costing €3,650, which would give him the independence he valued.
He was given a big surprise on Friday evening when his friends, who helped him raise the funds, organised a dinner at their favourite hangout where they had spent countless evenings back when they were carefree youths.
The dinner was prepared free of charge, while the proceeds went to Mr Borg’s cause.
The astonished Mr Borg was picked up by a limousine which escorted him to the snack bar, where scores of friends broke into loud applause.
When told of the collec-ted amount, Mr Borg was dumbfounded. Tears of happiness trickled down his face.
The mobility scooter is currently on its way. The extra money collected will be used to erect two electric ramps outside the main door and from the main door to the lift, so that Mr Borg will no longer need to heave his body up the stairs using his arms.
He will also be purchasing a push-pull system which would allow him, for the first time since he lost the use of his legs in 2007, to drive a car.
The rest will be given to Daqqa t’Id foundation, an NGO Mark Borg volunteers with.
“It is true: what you reap, you sow,” he smiles, hugging his daughters.