On 19 June, Daniel Abela will embark on a challenging stunt – that of rowing a boat single-handedly from Sicily to Malta in aid of the Puttinu Children’s Cancer Support Group and Beyond the Moon programme. The challenge, supported by the Vodafone Malta Foundation is being held to raise funds for the organisation and pay for a dream holiday for terminally sick children and their parents, in an effort to alleviate some of the hardships the families go through.
“A couple of years ago I started an initiative to raise funds while doing stunts that some had found extreme, or amusing,” said Daniel. “This year, I will attempt to row single-handedly from Sicily to Malta – a stretch of 100 kilometres expected to take from three to four days at sea. As a modern day ‘Columbus’ equipped with a rowing boat, food and water for a few days and a compass, I will try make my own way back home.”
Daniel will row his boat from Pozzallo in Sicily to the Valletta Waterfront.
Sandra Chetcuti, Sponsor Ambassador for Beyond the Moon in Malta said: “Beyond the Moon offers children suffering from a life-threatening disease and their families the opportunity of spending valuable quality time together and to enjoy a memorable, cost-free and carefree holiday in a child-friendly environment far away from hospitals and daily treatments. Our Moon is like a ‘light’ that brightens up the often dark and painful days of these children. The quality time we offer these families is beyond words, and the valuable memories of a Beyond the Moon holiday means more than the ‘light’ that brightens up their life. Beyond the Moon thanks Vodafone Malta Foundation and Daniel Abela for their support and the opportunity to participate in this challenge.”
Dr Victor Calvagna, president of the Puttinu Children’s Cancer Support Group, said, “Our support group works and supports children who suffer from cancer and aims to improve their quality of life. To achieve our goals we rely heavily on the generosity of individuals and organisations that, out of the goodness of their heart, find the time and the resources to help our support group. Therefore in the name of all the families that Puttinu represents I wholeheartedly thank Daniel Abela for helping us by performing such a remarkable and difficult stunt. I wish him the best of luck and I am sure that he will succeed in his quest. Special thanks also go to the Vodafone Malta Foundation for its generous support.”
Grace Spiteri, mother of 14-year old Margaret who passed away recently following her fight against leukaemia, recalled how happy Margaret was during her holiday in Florida, US, made possible through Puttinu Cares and Beyond the Moon. “Margaret lived again for five days in Florida. She completely forgot about her terminal illness and lived her dream to the full. We couldn’t give Margaret this holiday without the support we got and, while thanking Vodafone Malta Foundation for embarking on such an initiative, we encourage everyone to help us collect money for our children.”
The public is asked to make donations payable to either Puttinu Children’s’ Cancer Support Group or Beyond the Moon and sent to Daniel Abela, 217/1, 21st September Avenue, Naxxar NXR 1013.