For the second consecutive year, Santa Claus together with a group of management and team members from the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, paid a visit to the Rainbow Ward of Mater Dei Hospital before Christmas, giving out gifts to be enjoyed by the children, parents and medical staff of this ward.

During the visit, Rennie Zerafa from the Ward, also renowned for his work with the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Foundation, described the different aspects involved in the treatment of these children, highlighting the importance of creating a welcoming child friendly environment and of offering a positive attitude for the benefit of both the child and the parents.

In addition, Mr Zerafa spoke of the apartments purchased by the Puttinu Cares Foundation to help alleviate the hardships of the families of children receiving treatment in the UK.

This visit was planned by the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in line with various fundraising initiatives organised by Management and staff in aid of “Beyond the Moon”, an International non-profit charitable association that aids seriously ill children, including those from the Rainbow Ward of Mater Dei, by giving them and their family the holiday of a lifetime and hence the opportunity of spending valuable quality time with their loved ones, in what could well be their last real vacation together.

To date, through such activities organised over the last few years, three Maltese children suffering from a life-threatening disease have enjoyed a completely cost-free and care-free holiday in child-friendly holiday destinations. Following funds raised by The Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa this year, together with a generous donation by Round Table Malta 2, a fourth child will be benefiting from a similar holiday early next year.