Thanks to the proceeds raised in 2017 by Corinthia Palace Hotel, four local families with a seriously ill child will enjoy a cost-free dream family holiday. The money was raised from various events and initiatives organised by the hotel team including this month's Perfect Christmas Gift Fair.

The children will holiday courtesy of Beyond the Moon, the international non-profit charitable association which has been Corinthia's nominated charity for the last 11 years. The hotel has so far raised a staggering €80,000 for the charity. 

Held in the Corinthia Ballroom, the two-day fair raised €6,200 and attracted local craftspeople, stalls selling gifts and festive food prepared by the hotel's kitchen. The hotel's lobby was awash with concept design pieces, fashion and jewellery stalls, namely from Eclecticist, Charles & Ron and 202 Jewellery. There were also workshops for adults on the art of table-laying and napkin-folding and one for children demonstrating how to make festive cookies.

The funds were topped up by De La Rue Currency and Security Print Ltd, the local Maltese Division of the UK-based De La Rue plc, who organised a family day in October in aid of Beyond the Moon and raised €8,000. De La Rue is the largest commercial producer of banknotes and passports in the world. From this amount, another two families with sick children will have the opportunity of enjoying a vacation of a lifetime.

Visitors to the fair were also treated to entertainment by the choir from the Stagecoach Performing Arts School and bagpipe and drummers from The Jackson's Pipe Band Malta.

"Our collaboration with Beyond the Moon has helped us raise funds for 20 Maltese children to enjoy valuable time with their families on a holiday of a lifetime. We are proud to be part of this scheme," says David Woodward, general manager.

During the fair, Woodward also presented the President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca with a cheque of €500 for the Maltese Community Chest Fund.