More than €1.2 million were raised during last night's fund-raising even for Puttinu Cares on Xarabank.

The figure was announced on the TVM programme late last night, hours after another €100,000 were raised during the annual Mellieha to Senglea Good Friday walk.

The story of five-year-old Adreana who was diagnosed with cancer but is finally getting better was one of the main features on the programme. Adreana is now getting better and returned to school last week.

Puttinu Cares president Victor Calvania said 80 per cent of children who had cancer were completely cured.

Many, however, required treatment in the UK and Puttinu Cares offered free accommodation. Some had to go for treatment more than once, sometimes spending more than six months abroad.

The Puttinu Cares Foundation was set up in 2002 and began with an idea and a desire to offer a holistic approach to care for families with children suffering from cancer. 

On average, 30 young Maltese patients travel to the UK for diagnosis or treatment each month. Puttinu Cares spends about €500,000 to help families with travelling and subsistence expenses.