Lifecycle fund-raising up by 27%

The HSBC LifeCycle challenge has raised €200,000 in aid of the Renal Uit at Mater Dei Hospital, a 27% increase over last year. This year’s edition saw 39 riders cycling from Lourdes to Casablanca in August.

The funds have been used for the purchase of a range of equipment, including machines for the monitoring of dry weight during dialysis by means of blood volume measuring, a wheelchair scale to facilitate weighing of patients in wheelchairs; a cycling machine for use while patients are on haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis machines for home use and a non-invasive haemoglobin reader which does not require blood sampling.

Funds will also be used for the training of renal unit staff.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Joe Cassar, who received the equipment in a ceremony today, thanked LifeCycle and HSBC for their annual effort to ensure that patients receiving treatment at the Renal Unit are given a more complete service.

Alan Curry, President of the LifeCycle Organisation, said the increase in this year’s funds was probably directly related to a 50 per cent increase in riders’ participation, which from 26 last year went up to 39 this year.

HSBC has continued to support the LifeCycle Organisation by doubling funds collected by its staff to an overall total of €3,155.

The Renal Unit is one of the largest and busiest units at Mater Dei Hospital, with over 200 patients suffering from renal failure using its services. Some 120 patients visit the unit three times a week for four hours of haemodialsyis. The rest perform peritoneal dialysis themselves at home.

Since its inception in 1999, the LifeCycle Organisation provided over €200,000 worth of peritoneal dialysis machines, enabling patients to perform dialysis at home and during the night.