Updated | L-Istrina donations reach half a million euros

2:35pm:  L-Istrina funds reach €460,000. Donations received include a €2,247 cheque from the inmates at Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) and €535 from the wardens at the same facility.

As at 1:55pm:  Following several donations from different organisations and entities, the sum amounted to €355,200. The sum increase included donations from the Labour Party, €2,000, the Police Force who donated €2,000 and the Malta Muslim Community (MMC) who donated €500.

In an appeal for more donations, the MMC quoted "love for all and hatred for none".

At 1:30pm, the sum stood at €314,000. With over 7,000 piggy banks distributed amongst children, the sum collected from the little ones amounted to €55,000. Rounding up the sum by an extra €45,000, Bank of Valletta presented a cheque of €100,000.

According to L-Istrina statistics, Birkirkara (6.3%) , Hal Qormi (5.2%) and Mosta (4.3%) are the top three leading towns from which the most calls are coming in.

At 12:40, the sum stood at €144,600, mostly thanks to a €100,000 donation by HSBC.

With hundreds of dancers dancing to 'Viva La Vida', the President and his wife were one of the first to answer to the phones.

The numeric counter on the television screen shows a live update of the donations which come in through each call. In just ten minutes, the donations surpassed €11,000.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat have already visited the marathon, together urging everyone to call and donate money.

L-Istrina's presenters include Valerie Vella, Peppi Azzopardi, John Bundy, Alfred Zammit and Stephanie Spiteri.

For the second consecutive  year , the fund raising telethon will be held at the Lufthansa Technick hangar in Luqa.

With the theme ‘L-Istrina mill-Qalb’, (L-Istrina from the Heart), the funds collected will go in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. This is the second year that the MCCF is under the patronage of President George Abela.

A 12-hour telethon, L-Istrina will come to an end at midnight with the hope of surpassing last year’s amount of €2.3 million. This amount is only second to that collected in 2003 which amounted to some €2,329,792.

Donations are made on 5004 9005 for €12; 5004 9010 for €24 or by sending an SMS on 5061 8918 for €6.99 or 5061 9222 for €11.65.