Lifecyclists end 2,300 trip at Berlin landmark

The HSBC LifeCycle Challenge came to an end yesterday as 23 tired but happy cyclists escorted by the head and members of the Berlin Cycling Federation entered the famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

This year's challenge, which started with 25 cyclists on August 9, took participants over 2,300 kilometres from Romania to Germany, crossing through Ukraine and Poland, to raise funds for the St Luke's Hospital renal unit. The team returns to Malta this afternoon.

Spokesman Louise Bugeja said the team was woken up very early yesterday - by a massive thunderstorm with torrential rain.

Luckily, the storm had passed by dawn with only a mere drizzle by the time the final effort in this year's challenge was about to start.

And no wake-up call was needed yesterday as all the cyclists woke up early, eager to start the final ride that would take them from their accommodation in Eisenhuttenstadt right up to the Brandenburg Gate.

The cyclists started cycling at 8 a.m., proudly displaying the Maltese flag.

About five kilometres from the Gate they were met by members of the Berlin Cycling Federation and rode en masse through the Gate waving their Maltese flags, proudly cheered on by the whole support team and by the Maltese Ambassador to Germany John Paul Grech.

Stunned Germans and tourists looked on curiously at this invasion of this great capital, with most of them clapping and cheering the team.

On completing the challenge, the team headed to their accommodation in Berlin to pack their bikes. Then, they all enjoyed a well-deserved celebratory meal during which they could finally relax without worrying about, or dreading, the next day.

On Monday, the team had the shortest journey in this challenge having a route of just 90 kilometres on fairly flat terrain, a welcome change from the cruel rides they had to endure in the past days.

The longest ride in this challenge was on Sunday, when the team cycled over 265 kilometres.

In Poland, the challenge received local newspaper coverage on the Nowiny/Nyskie Tribuna Opoloska.

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, Guardamangia.

www.lifecyclechallenge.com