Watch: Puttinu Leaders Break Down Immense Challenges Behind Purchasing Central London Apartment
As Puttinu Cares prepares to open a new residence in central London for cancer patients and their relatives, two leading figures within the charity have explained how much work it took to get the project off the ground.
Puttinu President Angele Cuschieri and CEO Rennie Zerafa explained that, with around 60-90 Maltese people travelling to the UK for cancer treatment every month, the charity felt the need to purchase a residence close to the Great Ormond, National and Moorefields Hospitals.
This would complement the apartments they already own and rent in Sutton, south-west London.
However, purchasing a large property in one of the world’s most desirable locations was no easy feat, particularly for a charity.
“The majority of apartments in central London are rented out and while we wanted to invest wisely for future generations, it gets costlier and costlier the closer you are to the centre,” Cuschieri explained. “Many businesses wanted to purchase these apartments too and we were competing against them as a charity.”
Besides the financial pressures, Puttinu also had to overcome permit-related challenges.
“Residential permits didn’t apply for us because you would need to live there for a number of years. Business or commercial permits didn’t apply either because we wouldn’t have been allowed to house people there.”
After several years of searching and negotiating, Puttinu last year signed an agreement to purchase an apartment close to Regent’s Park and the Kings Cross and St Pancras stations. The project, estimated to cost €23 million, includes 23 apartments for patients and their relatives to stay free of charge.
It has been named after Victor Calvagna, the paediatric cancer specialist who founded Puttinu Cares and who died last year after he was run over by a car.
“Dr Calvagna was the first oncology consultant in Malta and when he saw me organising and inventing things, he told me that when he was studying overseas, he noticed that there was a foundation which helped cancer patients,” Zerafa recounted.
“That’s where Puttinu was born, from Dr Calvagna’s office. He was an intelligent man who gave us lots of freedom and protection, which made a big difference while working in the ward. He was a giant of medicine who made a huge difference in people’s lives.”
Cuschieri said Calvagna’s impact was clear at his funeral, when around 200 cancer patients who the late doctor had treated all placed a flower on his coffin as a sign of respect.
Angele Cuschieri and Rennie Zerafa outside Puttinu's new apartment for cancer patients in central London
Puttinu Cares has an upcoming fundraising marathon which will be aired live on all local channels on Good Friday. This year’s edition will run on April 7th, from 9am to 3pm and 9pm to midnight.
If you want to make a difference in the lives of patients and help Puttinu out, here’s how you can do it:
For individuals and smaller organisations who are also keen to help, please visit https://puttinucares.org/your-donation, call the Puttinu Cares donation lines, send a donation by text or bank transfer to
Donation Lines:
5160 2007 – Eur10
5170 2006 – Eur15
5180 2008 – Eur25
5190 2062 – Eur50
SMS Donations:
5061 6499 – Eur1.16
5061 7380 – Eur2.33
5061 8939 – Eur6.99
5061 9225 – Eur11.65
HSBC Bank Transfer
Account number: 089077341001
IBAN: MT55MMEB44897000000089077341001
Swift Code: MMEBMTMT
Cheques can be made payable to Puttinu Cares
Cover photo: Angele Cuschieri and Rennie Zerafa with three cancer survivors who Putitnu helped over the years
Are you going to help Puttinu this year?
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