MPs and trade unionists this afternoon kicked off the RTK4Charity activities in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza with a seven-aside football tournament at St Aloysius College in Birkirkara.

Four teams, made up of MPS and officials from the General Workers' Union, Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and Confederation of Malta Trade Unions took part in four 25-minute matches.

The 16th edition of the Dar tal-Providenza fundraising event continues until Sunday, when the home will open for the public at 9 a.m. On the day, the event will be broadcast live on all television stations.

A park-and-ride service will be provided from the Siġġiewi parish square and old runway in Siġġiewi from 2p.m. onwards.

Donations may be given at the Dar tal-Providenza, RTK radio studios in Blata l-Bajda, by phone on 5160 2012 (€10 donation), 5170 2013 (€15 donation), 5180 2014 (€25 donation), by SMS on 5061 8922 (€7 donation), or online at www.rtk4charity.org from today.

The home, set up in 1965 by Dun Mikiel Azzopardi, houses 100 people with mental and physical disabilities on a permanent basis, and provides respite services to another 50.

It needs €10,000 to operate every day, or €3.5 million a year. A record €668,217 was raised last year.

The year, the Dar ta-Providenza aims to set up a semi-independent residence for five people in Qawra.