As winner of the 2009 edition of the Johnnie Walker Man of the Year Award, Dr Ing. Nicholas J. Sammut Ph.D was entitled to donate the sum of €500, put up by M. Demajo (W&S) Ltd, local distributors for Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, to a charity of his choice

The charity selected by Dr Sammut, currently vice-chairman and CEO of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, was The Puttinu Cares Foundation, an organisation that offers a holistic approach to care for families who have children suffering from cancer. The Support Group was set up in 2002 and began from an idea of its founders Dr Victor Calvagna and Rennie Zerafa. Puttinu relies on sponsors and the public’s help to obtain funds for its activities, offering guidance for parents, and helping them deal with the ordeal ahead while giving them hope for the future. On a more tangible level, the Foundation has purchased a number of apartments, very close to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton UK, where young Maltese cancer sufferers are often referred for treatment. These apartments are offered to the patients’ families who accompany them during their treatment and who would otherwise be unable to afford to do so. Matthew Miceli Demajo, general manager and director of M. Demajo (W&S) Ltd presented the cheque to Dr Calvagna, representing Puttinu Cares Foundation in the presence of the 2009 Johnnie Walker Man of the Year, Dr Sammut.

Dr Calvagna thanked the winner of the award as well as the sponsoring company for their donation and expressed his wish that more similar donations reach the Foundation in order to help it finance its ever-growing requirements.