Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1290275
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 COMMERCIAL LOCAL NGO Beating Hearts Malta pre- sented a donation of €25,000 to the Re- search Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta, which will finance a PhD scholar- ship in cardiovascular disease. The study will focus on congenital and inherited cardiac disorders. The presentation of donation to Prof. Alfred J. Vella, Rector of the University and Chairperson of the RIDT was held on Friday 11 September in the pres- ence of members of the Committee of Beating Hearts Malta, the RIDT and the Doctoral School of the University. In a comment to the media, Dr Mary- anne Caruana, Consultant Cardiologist at Mater Dei Hospital, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta and Trustee of Beating Hearts Malta, expressed her gratitude to all those who supported BHM during the years. She said "Car- diovascular disease remains the biggest killer in European countries. Research is the "behind the scenes" of our prac- tice as doctors, giving us the necessary evidence to back up the treatment and advice we provide our patients with during our day-to-day work. However, effective research costs time and money. Thanks to the support of many, BHM is now able to invest in high-quality local cardiovascular re- search with the aim to improve the quality of care delivered to cardiac pa- tients in Malta and beyond." Beating Hearts Malta (BHM) was founded in December 2011. Its main objective at the outset was to provide support and encouragement for all adults and children with congenital heart disease (CHD) as well as their partners and families, and to promote awareness and educate social care pro- fessionals, employers, insurers and the general public about the existence and the needs of people with CHD. Over the years, the NGO has purchased spe- cialised medical equipment for the di- agnosis and treatment of patients with congenital and acquired heart disease receiving care at Mater Dei Hospital. As of 2019, BHM started supporting the continued professional development of doctors, nurses and allied health profes- sionals working in cardiology and cardi- ac surgery through yearly bursaries. Mr Wilfred Kenely, CEO of RIDT thanked the NGO for their generous support towards this scholarship. 'In today's world, when almost everything has been disrupted due to the current health crisis, such a donation gives us so much hope that science and research will eventually give us the solutions we need.'The RIDT was set up in 2011 to help the University of Malta expand its research portfolio in all areas of study, and to date it has helped raise more than €3.5 million from various sectors of the Maltese community, including corporates, NGOs and Foundations, and individual donors. Lidl Malta donates stationery items to help decrease back-to-school crisis for over 150 children LIDL Malta has helped a to- tal of over 150 children, who's families seek support from the St Jeanne Antide Foundation. The Foundation, that works with families who are facing socio-economic difficulties, will be trying to alleviate some of the back-to-school stressors for families who cannot afford to cover the costs for their children's stationery. The company's contribu- tion will help sustain these families and help decrease the back-to-school predica- ment they will face. "We have all been school children excited to start off a new scholastic year with our new bags and stationery sets; it is one of the thrilling sen- sations a kid feels when back- to-school period is round the corner. We also know that some families in Malta find it difficult to provide for their children and during the cur- rent circumstances, this is even more so. This is why we felt that such a donation is important to us – we believe that children should have equal opportunities and want to make life, especially dur- ing such hardships, a little easier for everyone." stated Mark Farrugia, the Regional Director of Lidl Malta. Lidl Malta considers itself to be part of the society and has its welfare at heart; this is why it invests in practical projects to create value for the local community and the society in which it operates. The company has always felt committed towards its Cor- porate Social Responsibility and therefore continues to support through various pro- jects. Beating Hearts Malta support local research in cardiovascular disease Beating Hearts Malta (BHM) was founded in December 2011