Lifecycle backup van breaks down

The HSBC LifeCycle team, which is raising funds for the hospital's renal unit in its annual challenge, faced yet more transportation problems yesterday when one of the backup vehicles stalled after about 45 kilometres on yesterday's leg through Poland.

The team is riding 2,300 kilometres from Romania to Germany crossing through Ukraine and Poland. A series of glitches has dogged this year's ride, a good number related to transport. The biggest one was when one of the backup vans was impounded by the police and the team had to make do without it for more than three days.

Spokesman Louise Bugeja said that in the latest incident the vehicle, which is new and still under guarantee, stopped when a fuse blew. It was taken to a garage for repairs and this resulted in the backup team members in this vehicle falling considerably behind the rest of the team.

Yesterday's 195-kilometre route was from Krakow to Zywiec - a town famous for its beer which the cyclists could not even taste as they cannot drink alcohol during the challenge.

The trip included a number of extremely steep and long hills with the gradient going up to 10 per cent.

Today, the team of 23 cyclists will cycle 227 kilometres from Zywiec to Nysa. Donations can be made in the LifeCycle accounts at HSBC 0611 987 920 50 or at Bank of Valletta 148 1452 1017, or by sending an SMS to 5061 7356 for a Lm1 donation, 5061 8921 for Lm3 or 5061 9218 for Lm5.

Donations to the LifeCycle Organisation can also be sent c/o Renal Unit, St Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia.

www.lifecyclechallenge.com