The executive chef at the Malta Hilton, Joe Vella, joined forces with the Life Cycle Organisation to present a state-of-the-art Lm10,000 kidney machine to Health Minister Louis Deguara yesterday.

Some months ago, Mr Vella launched a recipe book titled “Feast Your Senses” with more than 140 mouth-watering recipes and beautiful, large photographs.

This book was not for sale but people were asked to give a donation, with all proceeds going to the Hospice Movement and the Life Cycle Organisation.

Around 400 copies were “sold”.

Mr Vella appealed to fellow chefs to follow his example and help charitable causes.

Dr Deguara thanked Mr Vella for his donation and Life Cycle for their innovative style of fund-raising.

Thanks to Life Cycle, the quality of the around 180 patients who require dialysis at the Renal Unit in order to survive has improved considerably, he said.