Mr Delicata explained that from the foundation’s inception, the refurbishment of the ward in Gozo was one of its priorities as he and his wife – the founders of the association – had a chance to compare the ward’s facilities with those of a children’s ward at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, when they took their son Daniel there because he was feeling ill.

The ward’s dècor is dull and unattractive and there were no playing facilities as the UK hospital had, such as TVs, videos, computers etc, which all contributed to make the lives of the little patients a bit easier, he explained. “While we were waiting for the doctor in the ward, our son asked to watch TV but there was no set installed.”

The committee’s original idea was to furnish every bed with Relax armchairs and audio-

visual equipment and to fit the ward with air conditioners and a new playroom, however, as the electric and plumbing equipment of the ward dates 30 years, and the hospital did not budget change for the next two years, the foundation decided to shoulder the expense of changing these services as well which amount to some Lm5,000.

The decision was taken in view of the fact that the money spent on the dècor could go to waste, should the services be changed after the refurbishments have been carried out. Mr Delicata insisted that he will be holding talks with the government in order to have the money for these services reimbursed as the association felt that the necessities should always be paid by the government.

The work will take around ten weeks to finish, Mr Delicata explained. Most of the funds invested come from the Christmas-time Strina collection while the rest come from the association’s own funds, collected during other fund raising activities.

Mr Delicata appealed to any Gozitans who would like to give a hand with the painting work, which will be done by the association members, to call on 9949-6960 or 9940-8346, adding that the travel expenses for the members, most of which are Maltese were an added burden.

The association’s vice chairman, Martin Fenech, announced the yearly fund-raising gala dinner held in memory of Daniel’s birthday, on 5 October, from 7.30pm onwards at the Radisson SAS Hotel in St Julian’s and called for the public to attend in aid of the foundation’s important work.