HSBC sponsors children's cancer support group

The HSBC Cares for Children Fund has signed an agreement with the recently founded group 'Puttinu Cares - Children's Cancer Support Group' at St. Luke's Hospital.

The Support Group was set up with the aim of providing ancillary needs for the families of children affected by all types of cancer.

The Chairperson of the 'Puttinu Cares - Children's Cancer Support Group', Dr Victor Calvagna, explained, "We aim to support families with a national information service, to campaign for the provision of a co-ordinated network of care and support, and to promote models of good care and practice.

"The group intends to assist in furthering the knowledge and skills of professional carers by providing specialist literature and education opportunities. In addition, fund-raising activities will be organised to achieve all these initiatives."

The agreement was signed between Mr Jeremy Hunt, Chairman of HSBC Cares for Children Fund, Dr. Philip Farrugia Randon, author of Puttinu and Toninu, on behalf of HSBC, and Dr Victor Calvagna, in the presence of the Medical Administrator of St. Luke's Hospital, Dr Frank Bartolo.

Mr Hunt explained, "The HSBC Cares For Children Fund is committed to assist underprivileged children. We are now extending our support to this newly formed group, Puttinu Cares, to provide essentials for families attending to the care of their children at St Luke's Hospital."

The HSBC Cares For Children Fund, together with Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, are also giving the right to the Group to use the well-known children's characters, 'Puttinu and Toninu' illustrations in their campaigns.

Puttinu and Toninu is a collection of twelve stories for children written by Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, also available on compact disc. Proceeds collected through the distribution of the books and CDs are donated to the HSBC Cares For Children Fund and are currently used in a number of educational, recreational and rehabilitation programmes undertaken by the Fund.

Dr Calvagna added, "Thanks to HSBC Cares For Children Fund and Dr Farrugia Randon, we shall be able to support parents and relatives and to ease their daily tasks when looking after the needs of their children while in hospital. It is important that we are equipped with these facilities and that we have access to the right knowledge so that parents and relatives will be in a better position to assist their loved ones."

During the ceremony, Mr Hunt presented a number of sofa-beds, a washing-machine and a dryer to Dr Calvagna and Dr. Bartolo for the use of the families assisting their children at the Wonderland Ward.