A three-year old girl who suffers from cancer, Nicole Balzan, is one of may beneficiaries of the Puttinu Cares Foundation.

Nicole’s mother Loraine tells TVM’s programme Xarabank this evening how on getting the shock of her life and learning about her daughter’s condition she immediately found assistance from the foundation who told her to take care of her child and let them worry about the rest.

“That is exactly what they did,” she said.

Nicole has been going in and out of Mater Dei Hospital for eight months. The young girl has come to love Rainbow Ward because of the environment the foundation created and calls it “our big house”.

The ward is packed with games and activities for children, parents have where to cook and where to wash their clothes.

Loraine said that although Nicole has not yet required treatment in the UK, she knows that if she has to go, the family will find support from Puttinu, where the foundation has fully equipped apartments.

Rennie Zerafa, one of the founders, said the foundation, which is currently assisting 30 families a month in the UK, did its utmost to create a Maltese environment in these apartments.

Telephone numbers start with 21, televisions are equipped with Maltese stations and special pastizzi deliveries are made regularly. The apartments are also equipped with internet.

Loraine is this evening answering telephone call donations on a special Xarabank programme in aid of the foundation. She will be joined by other parents of children receiving care as well as parents who have lost their children, including the parents of 11-year-old Jacob, who died two months ago, aged 11.

Meanwhile, some 4,000 walked to collect funds for Puttinu last night in a pilgrimage from Mellieha to Senglea.