As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen palliative care support in Malta and Italy, the Institute of Tourism Studies will host a two-day public fundraising event on 12 and 13 December at St Michael Hospice premises in Santa Venera and Valletta. The event will showcase handmade chocolates produced through an unprecedented international collaboration. This initiative forms part of the Winter Games Express project, which includes the construction of a 52-metre chocolate train set to challenge the Guinness World Record for the world's longest chocolate train.
Proceeds from the chocolates created for the event will directly support St Michael Hospice, Malta, and Associazione Cure Palliative ODV-ETS in Bergamo, Italy. Two organisations dedicated to providing dignified and compassionate end-of-life care. More than fifty volunteers from ITS, Hospice Malta, and Cure Palliative Italy have already joined forces to prepare for the weekend, underscoring the community spirit behind the project.
The Winter Games Express has been in development since early 2025 and is led by ITS lecturer and current Guinness World Record holder Andrew Farrugia, with the support of Alan Picco, Senior Manager in Food and Beverage Service Operations and Events. This is in collaboration with Italian partners from CAST Alimenti in Brescia and the Minetti laboratories in Bergamo. Hundreds of kilos of premium chocolate supplied by Belcolade Italia are being sculpted across both countries, with wagon components currently taking shape inside the Minetti 1980 facilities, the ITS kitchens, and the CAST Institute.
When completed, the 52-metre edible masterpiece will be unveiled during a three-day exhibition in Milan from 25 to 27 January 2026. The showcase forms part of the Olympics for Culture schedule leading up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, offering a platform for young Maltese and Italian talent to demonstrate craftsmanship on an international stage.
Speaking during a press conference held on ITS premises, ITS CEO, Pierre Fenech, said, "This project shows what can be achieved when education and community spirit come together. Our students, lecturers, and staff stepped forward without hesitation, and I am proud of the dedication and heart they are putting into it. Supporting Hospice in this way is a reminder of what hospitality truly means."
CEO of St Michael Hospice, Malta, Mr Kenneth Delia thanked ITS and the project partners for their support, noting that the collaboration aligns strongly with Hospice's core values of professionalism, quality service, and teamwork. "This initiative is an excellent opportunity for us. Government support remains essential, but community fundraising is equally important in helping us expand the care we provide. A smile goes a long way, and a few words of support go even further, they truly make a difference to our patients and their families. This is not just about fundraising, but about collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this partnership built on quality, compassion, and transparency," he said.
Explaining the ideals of the project and the work done so far, Andrew Farrugia pointed out that the Winter Games Express began as a bold, creative idea, backed immediately by the ITS management team. He also highlighted the pride he feels in seeing students and educators from Malta and Italy working side by side, not only sculpting chocolate, but also showcasing the wider value of their profession to the public. He expressed appreciation for the coordinated effort of everyone contributing behind the scenes to bring this project to life.
Corroborating this, Andrea Bonatti, CAST Alimenti Pastry Chef, said, "As described in the project, this train represents a journey that unites craftsmanship, culture, and human pride. And today, here in Malta, we are taking the first steps of that journey together. This initiative is extraordinary not only for its scale, but for the remarkable number of people, institutions, schools, and organisations involved. It shows what can be achieved when places like Brescia, Milan, and Malta collaborate with courage, creativity, and a spirit of friendship."
The December fundraiser marks the first major public activation of the Winter Games Express, bringing together artistry, education, and solidarity. For ITS and its partners, the project represents not only a Guinness World Record ambition but a meaningful commitment to supporting families and communities at their most vulnerable moments. Members of the public who wish to support St Michael Hospice may do so by donating on 7993 3894.