Socking it to cancer

After yet another incredibly successful edition of ‘The GRiD’, Malta’s premier endurance event, title sponsors The Stars Group have teamed up on a fantastic initiative with the organisers and Teamsport, in the fight to overcome a far greater challenge.

In October, the close to 2000 entrants for The GRiD Sprint event held in the Golden Bay area were invited to purchase and run in pink socks, a nod to the Pink October fundraisers for cancer charities held worldwide, with proceeds of the sale contributing to a donation to Puttinu Cares.

Puttinu Cares, the children’s cancer support group was set up 12 years ago soon after the opening of a specialised Paediatric Oncology Unit in Hospital, now known as Rainbow Ward. The support group offers guidance to the patient and relatives, helps them deal with the ordeal ahead and gives them hope for a brighter future. The team gets to know the families and seeks to treat each family with individual needs.

Puttinu also offers help when families need to go abroad for any kind of further treatment in UK. The government covers all medical costs for the patient but Puttinu is there to provide accommodation for the accompanying family free of charge. The support has now extended to include adult patients. This eases a huge burden, since when a child gets sick parents do not have the expense of accommodation to be able to stay with their child in hospital and care for them in between stays.

James Hancock, Employer Specialist at The Stars Group elaborated on the motivation behind the initiative “We are proud sponsors of ‘The GRiD’and the personal challenges it presents to those who take on the task, it’s a great deal of fun for everyone involved. All of this however pales into insignificance when confronted with the trials faced by the children and families affected by cancer, it has been the most humbling and educating experience to talk and meet with the team at Puttinu Cares and get a small glimpse of the exceptional work they do. They make an incredible difference.”

The GRiD will once again be supporting Puttinu Cares in its upcoming event ‘Sweat for a Cause’ on 1st June.

Those interested in supporting this amazing charity can find more information on the website www.puttinucares.org