Volksbank is to extend its sponsorship of the Malta Red Cross to 2012, managing director Herbert Skok announced during a meeting with the organisation’s director general, Paulette Fenech, and director of operations, Robert Brincau.

“Getting to know about the financial challenges the organisation has to face, Volksbank last year decided to allocate most of its funds for sponsorships to the Malta Red Cross,” Mr Skok explained.

“The Red Cross provides first aid and ambulance services during public events, but the main objective is to assist in case of national disaster. So finally, the whole population profits from the services they offer on a voluntary basis – this is a very good reason to sponsor the society.”

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Malta Red Cross Society was set up in October 1991 as a non-governmental organisation as is now looking back at 20 years of uninterrupted hard work.

Even though it forms part of the International Red Cross group, the Maltese branch does not receive any funding but relies entirely on donations and on dedicated volunteers who generously give their time and skills to improve the lives of others. The fleet of the Malta Red Cross is made up of six ambulances, two support vehicles, one quad bike, one rescue boat, one goods van and a people transporter, which all have to be maintained by funds received through sponsorships. First aid duties during private events or taxi services for persons needing wheelchairs also add to the much needed funds.