Nearly 1,000 new patients turned to Hospice Malta last year as the NGO is now preparing for its annual fundraising telethon to sustain and expand its services.

Hospice Malta, the palliative care organisation, will host its annual 12-hour live fundraising telethon later this month, as demand for its services continues to grow, a statement said.

The broadcast will take place on Saturday, 25 April, from 11am to 11pm, bringing together patients, families, healthcare professionals, artists, and the wider community in support of Hospice Malta's mission to provide free palliative care across Malta and Gozo.

Demand for services has continued to grow, as nearly 1,000 new patients turned to Hospice Malta for support last year, an average of three families every day.

In 2025 alone, Hospice Malta said it delivered 33,000 professional sessions at patients' homes, along with over 4,000 sessions of social and psychosocial support.

Over 400 patients attended the NGO's Day Therapy Unit and its clinics, benefiting from services such as psychology, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, and social work, as well as group sessions designed to encourage social engagement and offer respite.

Funds raised during the telethon will support Hospice Malta's expanding services, including community care and day therapy programmes, as well as the newly inaugurated St Michael Hospice headquarters.

This will include a state-of-the-art 16-room In-Patient Unit aimed at offering round-the-clock medical care, comfort, and dignity when it is needed most, the statement said.

"More families are reaching out to us every year. The telethon helps ensure we can continue to be there for everyone who needs us, free of charge," Chairperson Bernadette Bonnici Kind said.

Hospice Malta said the live broadcast will feature real stories, live interviews, and moments that reflect the NGO's impact, standing beside patients and families through some of life's most difficult times.

"Hospice professionals felt like angels, always there, supporting and guiding us through the darkest moments," one relative shared ahead of the telethon.

"When someone turns to Hospice, they are not just receiving care, they are being supported holistically as a person," CEO Kenneth Delia said.

 "Our role is to be there in a way that is professional, compassionate, and truly human," he added.

Members of the public can support Hospice Malta during the telethon by making a donation through various methods, including calling dedicated donation lines (€25 - 5180 2024 | €50 - 5190 2031), sending an SMS (€11.65 - 5061 9234), or contributing via BOV Mobile or myAPS on 7993 3894.

Donations can also be made online through the organisation's website.