HP provides support to Travelex Lifecycle Challenge

The Life Cycle Organisation opted to use HP technological equipment throughout the Travelex Life Cycle Challenge 2006.

The challenge, entitled "Over and Above - Crossing the Arctic Circle", covered 2,018 kilometres from Oslo through Kiruna in Sweden up to Rovaniemi in Finland, from August 1 to 10. This year, the Life Cycle team totalled 85 participants, 58 of whom were cyclists.

The support team used two HP Compaq nx6125 Notebook PCs throughout the event to help the cyclists in logistics, setting up the route, writing out daily articles and, in turn, communicating them to the Maltese media. These notebooks were also used by some cyclists for online blogs or online diaries, outlining their own personal experience day by day.

HP equipment was also vital in keeping track of the cyclists' timings to make sure that the individual performance of each cyclist fell within the rules of the challenge. "HP technological equipment in hand facilitated the course of action and routes," said Alexandra Bonnici, one of the Life Cycle organisers.

"It also allowed us to instantly view photographs taken and to forward them to our close family members and friends. Life Cycle is grateful to its sponsors for supporting this event and in turn directly contributing to a better quality of service for renal patients."

The Life Cycle Organisation is a voluntary, non-profit organisation which aims to raise funds for the Renal Unit at St Luke's Hospital, to increase awareness of the causes of renal disease, and to promote organ donation by organising activities, events and campaigns. Life Cycle achieves these goals chiefly by annually organising an ambitious and challenging extreme-cycling event across Europe.

For more information visit www.lifecyclechallenge.com where donations can also be made online. Visitors to the site may also leave their comments which may greatly help to raise flailing spirits and to give a boost when morale is low.

Donations can also be made in the Lifecycle Account at Bank of Valletta or at HSBC, or by SMS on 5061-7356 (Lm1), 5061-8921 (Lm3), or 5061-9208 (Lm5).

Donations to the Lifecycle Organisation may also be sent c/o Renal Unit, St Luke's Hospital, Guardamangia.