iGEN selected Puttinu Cares for sponsorship on 23 June 2023, following presentations by four charitable organizations. The group included Malta Community Chest Foundation, Foodbank Lifeline Foundation, and Malta Ranger Unit. The funding supports the charity’s new accommodation project for families of pediatric cancer patients.
Puttinu Cares, established in October 2002, provides holistic care for families with children suffering from cancer. The organization initially renovated the children’s ward at St. Luke’s Hospital, which is now the Rainbow ward at the Sir Anthony Oncology Centre in Msida.
London Accommodation Project
The charity recently acquired a building in the WC1 district of London for £22 million. Located near Great Ormond, National, and Moorfields Hospitals, the facility will be named Victor Calvagna House. The complex requires a total refit, with work currently underway to remove existing fixtures.
The project includes 27 wheelchair-accessible apartments available for sponsorship by iGEN members.
Puttinu Cares currently operates 26 apartments in Sutton, near major oncology hospitals. The organization assists 60 to 90 patients monthly across 30 UK hospitals. While the government covers medical costs, the charity provides free accommodation for accompanying family members.
CEO Rennie Zerafa stated, "Having accommodation available close to treatment centres is also an important ingredient in the sick child’s care."
Over the years, the charity has organized fundraising events such as the Football Marathon to support patients during long-term treatment periods.