This year's Life Cycle Organisation challenge to the Lake District and Scottish Highlands will be in aid of the Transplant Support Group (Malta), which is closely linked to renal failure.

Life Cycle yesterday donated 10 machines for chronic kidney disease to St Luke's Hospital Renal Unit.

The decision to donate the proceeds of the challenge to the group was taken at its last meeting after the money raised during L-Istrina 2002 put Life Cycle in a better position to expand its cause by helping another organisation which was closely linked.

It pointed out that 81 per cent of TSG's current members had links with renal failure.

Life Cycle will be meeting the support group to formulate a policy for raising money and awareness on this worthwhile cause.

Life Cycle, which was founded in 1999, aims to support patients suffering from end stage renal failure and works to collect money for the renal unit.

The donations yesterday, handed out in the presence of Health Minister Louis Deguara, include six kidney machines and four Home Choice peritoneal machines.

Dialysis treatment is very expensive and costs approximately Lm10,000 per patient per year. It is estimated that the running cost is over Lm1.8 million to treat the current number of patients for one year.

Apart from providing medical treatment, the unit also strives to improve the quality of life of patients and the latest technology in dialysis are continuously being introduced.

While the Health Department provides financial assistance to the unit, Life Cycle donates extra money to complement the services given by the hospital.