The sixth Life Cycle event, which raises funds for the renal unit, will this year see 36 cyclists ride a total of 1,700 kilometres for nine consecutive days through France and Spain in what has been dubbed the Pyrenean Crusade.

Donations from this year's charity event, which will take riders from Paris to Madrid between August 31 and September 9, will also be extended to help the Organ Transplant Support Group.

Chairman Anna Miggiani said yesterday Life Cycle was going from strength to strength and this year's event had seen a record number of applications, with entries exceeding the number required.

"I would have thought that after last year's large number of dropouts during the Braveheart Challenge in the UK, where only 17 of the original 28 completed the trip, many would have been scared off by the extreme physical endurance needed. However, it seems it has encouraged more to undergo the gruelling test, which is fast becoming a major sporting event for the island," Ms Miggiani said.

She was speaking at a press conference to launch this year's Life Cycle. Also present were Health Minister Louis Deguara, French ambassador Patrick Chrismant and Spanish ambassador Maria Rosa Boceta.

Each year 40 to 50 people in Malta succumb to kidney failure and at the moment there are about 180 patients at the renal unit whose kidneys cannot function.

There is also the wrong perception that this sickness affects older people when this is not the case. At the moment there are five children and young people undergoing treatment at the renal unit.

There were two types of treatment. Patients could either follow haemodialysis which is administered through kidney machines at hospital for four hours, three times a week; or else the peritoneal dialysis which the patient administers at home and requires a monthly check-up at the renal unit.

The life of these people depends on dialysis and many are waiting to receive a kidney transplant. However, there is a long waiting list and it could take between four to five years for some to receive such a transplant, which are also in short supply.

Dialysis is extremely expensive and just keeping the renal unit going costs Lm1.8 million a year - approximately Lm10,000 for every patient a year.

The renal unit also works to improve the quality of life of the patients by introducing new treatments, which require heavy investment, despite the support of the Department of Health.

This is why Life Cycle was set up in 1999 with a mere four volunteers who offered to cycle through Europe, come rain or shine, to raise funds.

Since it was set up the organisation has donated, among others, eight machines for peritoneal dialysis which cost Lm4,000 each; 10 machines for haemodialysis, costing about Lm8,000 each; Lm8,000 for the purchase of air conditioners; Lm5,000 for a new reverse osmosis plant for patients with kidney failure and a dialysis chair.

Donations to Life Cycle can be made directly through their web site www.lifecyclechallenge.com or to the Renal Unit at St Luke's Hospital. Otherwise you can send an SMS on the following numbers: Go Mobile: 5622 for Lm2; 5633 for Lm3; 5655 for Lm5; and Vodafone: 50617317 for Lm1; 50617900 for Lm2 and 50618816 for Lm3.