The Vodafone Malta Foundation Family Day will be held on Sunday 21 May to celebrate Unesco’s International Day of Families.
The event will also serve to raise funds for Caritas and The Eden Foundation.
The highlight of the event will be an attempt by Daniel Abela to cross the 2.4 kilometre-wide Ghadira Bay underwater. He will be assisted by the Civil Protection’s DART volunteers.
“This is a unique event for all the family, to celebrate families and at the same time help Caritas and The Eden Foundation to raise more funds. The Vodafone Malta Foundation has always been very active in supporting these two organisations who work tirelessly to help those in need,” said the chairperson of the Vodafone Malta Foundation, Gemma Mifsud Bonnici.
Apart from the usual food and drink stalls, games for all the family, tug of war featuring the Alligators Rugby Football Club, a penalty shoot out with leading goalkeepers including Sean Sullivan, Mario Muscat, Simon Agius, Jason Cordina and Ernest Barry, and a beach soccer tournament.
Other attractions include an air to sea rescue demonstration by the Armed Forces of Malta and a Dog and Horse Show by the Malta Police Force. At 5pm Mass will be celebrated by Mgr Victor Grech.
“Although we are living a fast life within a demanding society, the Eden Foundation and Caritas are dedicating some of their precious time to work together for a common goal for the benefit of the community. They are showing that with a little effort, we can overcome small mindedness and pettiness.
“I will challenge myself to cross Ghadira Bay and back under water weighed down by some 25kg because I sincerely believe that everyone of us can make a difference. I would like to thank the Vodafone Malta Foundation for being so supportive of this project and both Caritas Malta and the Eden Foundation for taking this initiative. I hope there will be a good attendance from the public,” said Daniel Abela.
Mgr Victor Grech from Caritas said that he was looking forward to this event celebrating the family and thanked Daniel Abela, The Eden Foundation and The Vodafone Malta Foundation for their collaboration to raise funds for both charities.
“Caritas needs over Lm40,000 per month to operate, as all the services offered by us are free of charge. Caritas offers a wide spectrum of services to those in need, including: counseling; drug rehabilitation and prevention education. Our latest project was the setting up of the Harm Reduction Project, a shelter for homeless people with drug abuse problems.”
Dr Josie Muscat, president of the Eden Foundation said: “The Foundation needs constant assistance in order to continue assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities. Over the years we have been able to rely on a number of organisations who have never hesitated in their commitment to supporting our efforts. The Vodafone Foundation is one such organisation which is once again stepping in to help us make this day a success.”
Funds raised during the event will also go towards the setting up of Malta’s first electronic medical journal which will be coordinated by Dr Victor Grech, a leading paediatric cardiologist.