The 15-hour marathon organised by RTK in aid of Dar tal-Providenza succeeded in collecting e471,209 (Lm202,290) without promising any sort of gift in return.

The telethon, which was organised for the 12th year, was held in connection with an open day at the institution founded by Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi in 1965 with a vision to improve the lives of the mentally and physically disabled.

Organiser Tonio Bonello told The Malta Independent the bulk of the sum was cash contributions by people who visited the home, who were invited to donate their lira small change. In fact, volunteers had to count the small change stored in seven large boxes.

Around e23,294 (Lm10,000) was collected through auctioning a number of items; mainly paintings, sculptures and sports memorabilia.

A solid gold stamp portraying St Gorg Preca fetched most at e10,948 (Lm4,700) while the now-famous bank notes withdrawn by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on 1 January amounting to e100 (Lm42.93) fetched e628.93 (Lm270).

The notes were withdrawn by Dr Gonzi from a fixed ATM after a purposely set up bank mobile ATM developed a technical fault and defied the Prime Minister’s attempts to draw money. The e100 were signed and donated by Dr Gonzi who visited the Dar tal-Providenza with his wife Kate.