Garage Of Memories: Mark’s Story & Why Miegħek Jien Matters

Mark Grech was just 10 years old when he fell in love with cars. He used to help his father in the family garage, learning the skill of car spraying. His passion was so strong that his father sent him to England to attend two specialised courses. The sound of engines, the smell of fresh paint, the feeling of transforming a car, this was Mark’s world. The garage was his life.

At 22, Mark was working full time with his father. But suddenly, everything changed. He began to lose control of his hands. Doctors diagnosed him with Multiple Sclerosis. The garage that had once brought him joy became a memory, as Mark found himself confined to his bedroom, unable to move.

Around that same time, tragedy struck. Mark’s father, who had always been by his side, collapsed at the garage and passed away shortly after. Losing him was more than losing a parent. It was losing a friend, a colleague, a constant presence. “He was everything to me,” says Mark.

Mark’s life continued to change, but this time for the better. For the past six years, Mark has been living at DAR Bjorn, Malta’s only home dedicated to people with neurological conditions. Here, he found not just care, but peace of mind. He found a second family. His sister Lorraine, who had been through her own struggles after losing both parents, also found comfort at DAR Bjorn and now works in the cafeteria. “This place gave me back my life. When I cried, there was always a shoulder to lean on,” she says.

Maria Formosa, decided to do something special for Mark. With the help of Lorraine, she organised a surprise visit to the garage where it all began. The biggest surprise of all was that they found the original spray gun Mark used to work with. The moment he saw it, he was overwhelmed with emotion. “I miss the trade,” he said with tears in his eyes.

Maria did not stop there. She took Mark to the old pastizzeria just up the road, the same place where he used to grab two pastizzi during his breaks. “It was a perfect day,” said Mark. A day filled with memories, smells, tastes and feelings that had been locked away for years.

His neighbours still remember him fondly. “He sprayed so many cars for us,” one of them told Maria. “He was like our son. Quiet, always talking about cars.”

When their mother passed away, Lorraine found comfort in knowing her brother was safe. “She died with peace of mind because she knew Mark was in the right place,” she said.

Now, with the support of DAR Bjorn, Mark is no longer alone. He has people around him, he has a voice, and he has purpose. He is not just surviving. He is living with dignity.

You Can Help People Like Mark

On 31 August, join us for the national “Miegħek Jien” Telethon, broadcast on all main TV stations in Malta. All donations will go towards the building of the third neurological home in Malta to help more people like Mark.

To donate, call:

5190 2075 to donate €50

5180 2018 to donate €25

To send an SMS:

5061 9271 to donate €11.65

Say it. Mean it. “Miegħek Jien.”

#MaltaDaily