Thursday, 30th July 2009 - 17:14CET

Cyclist's cornea to be donated

A cornea belonging to cyclist Cliff Micallef, who was killed in a road accident at the Bahar ic-Caghaq coast road this morning, is to be donated, Mr Micallef's wife Shirley had confirmed. The other cornea cannot be donated because of the trauma suffered when Mr Micallef was hit by a car while cycling at about 5 a.m.

Mr Micallef had an donor card, but organs from his body cannot be donated because he died on the road and organ deterioration started immediately owing to lack of oxygen. The cornea is a tissue, not an organ.

Mr Micallef had been training for the Lifecycle Challenge, which will this year see cyclists pedal from Istanbul to Damascus to raise funds for the renal unit at Mater Dei Hospital. Another purpose of the Lifecycle Challenge is to promote organ donations.

Transplant Coordinator Tony Bugeja, one of the organisers of the Lifecycle Challenge, said when contacted that the Challenge would go ahead as planned but would be dedicated to Mr Micallef.

"His death is a major blow to Lifecycle. Besides cycling, Cliff helped in the organisation of the challenge and this year he was to be a bike mechanic."

Mr Bugeja complained that drivers in Malta showed less respect to cyclists than was the case abroad. Although respect had improved over the years, so had the volume of traffic and any improvement had therefore been neutralised, he said.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20090731/betfair-lifecycle-challenge-2009/cliff-micallef-1964-2009

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Andy Towler (on 1/8/09)

@Max: Your ability to post here, considering what you must be going through, is to be admired. Those of us involved with Lifecycle are trying to understand your loss, but of course we can't, not entirely. But have courage, and please know that the entire Lifecycle team are undertaking their challenge in honour of your father.

Joe Mizereck (on 1/8/09)

My heart sinks everytime I hear we have lost a fellow cyclist. My condolences to Cliff's family for your loss. I know you are hurting and the days ahead will be hard. You are in my thoughts as you move forward.

I want to thank the police for doing their work and finding the killer. Please make sure he never operates a motor vehicle again.

Joe Mizereck
joe@3feetplease.com
joe@roadguardian.com

Max Micallef (on 31/7/09)

FROM A SON: i hv read all your comment. i appreciate each and every letter of them. i am pleased to hear we are all ready 2 do something about such a tragedy. MY dad will constantly live in our soul coz he would always think about others before himself. it was a great pity that not more could be donated but it was all we could get from him i know he would have wanted everything to be donated. he will be truly missed by every single one of us but his spirit is still with us all of us. His funeral service would be held tomorrow (Saturday) at tal ibragg parish church at 2. all are welcome and all attendance will be greatly appreciated.

Joe Fenech (on 31/7/09)

How sad!! Bad driving needs to be dealt with once and for all. We need tough test (ie European standard one), tough fines.

vince agius (on 31/7/09)

Cliff, I am sure you may now ride your bike safely in Heaven. Pray for us mate.....

S Vella (on 31/7/09)

A very Noble gesture in such a difficult moment....Cliff lost his life when he was preparing himself for an event to help others, and after this fatal accident he still managed to do so with this honorouble donation.
Condoliences to his family in this difficult moment.

George Vella (on 31/7/09)

I have known Cliff for more than 30 years and the news of his untimely and cruel death has saddened me deeply. This was a true gentleman with a great heart. My deepest condolences go to his wife and kids, his brother Michael and his mum and dad, Max and Doris.
May you rest in peace, dear friend.

Teresa Pacet (on 31/7/09)

being of service of others even after his death....may God bless his family for such a noble gesture. A selfless family.... Another example to all of us.

Jonathan Barbara (on 31/7/09)

This man was a great gentleman... lets pay him a tribute tomorrow afternoon and attend to the funeral at 2pm l-Ibragg to celebrate his true love. You will always be remembered Cliff.

ex Lifecycle member and cyclist

Charles Zammit (on 31/7/09)

Hello Cliff I am sure you will make heaven a better place by your presence . I am sure you will do your bit for all up there
My condolences to the family

joseph formosa (on 30/7/09)

I have known Cliff since secondary school,he was always a keen cyclist even at that age his altrustic character was apparent.May he rest in peace .God bless his family for such a noble gesture.

marie therese padovani (on 30/7/09)

This is such a shocking yet 'not unexpected' tragedy. I am a regular cyclist on our roads and can certainly confirm that vehicles drivers on this island (especially female drivers) are in terrible need of a 'crash course' in 'respect to cyclists on our roads'. The WOMEN DRIVERS most especially, are the ones who have absolutely no knowledge, or respect to cyclists on the road. It is absolutely high time, that some strategy on 'close monitoring for safety to cyclists' is seriously considered. As for myself, I shall put my foot down and start taking snapshots of number plates of those abusing vehicle drivers, who treat our cyclists like they were mosquitoes !!!

A Cardona (on 30/7/09)

my deepest sympathies to his wife, kids, family and all his friends. I do not know him but by just reading the comments here,the other blog and his dedication to help others i am sure he was a great noble man to know and be friends with.

RIP.

R Micallef (on 30/7/09)

May God grant Clifford eternal rest by his side and may Clifford's family find solace in the Lord. I think it is difficult to accept life and its tribulations if one does not seek Him.

Alan W Attard (on 30/7/09)

God grant you eternal rest dear Clifford and may the Almighty give your family the courage to face these difficult moments in serenity. I only spoke to you some weeks ago and we were rekindling the times at the college where we attended school together - I shall remember your positive attitude to life and its challenges.

A bold suggestion to the organisers of the Life Cycle Challenge - keep Cliff's memory alive in this annual event which could be bear his name in future editions.

Good bye dear Cliff.

Alan Attard

lorraine farrugia (on 30/7/09)

My condolences to all the Micallef family. As a young girl attending St Monica School in Birkirkara, I well remember all the Micallef members of the family, children and parents riding their bikes. Even as a young girl I used to admire this family and thought that a family united in exercise must be really tightly knit. I will keep you all in my prayers.

Dominic Camilleri (on 30/7/09)

I have known Cliff for a very very Long time, I was so shocked to hear from a friend this morning about his tragic Death.
My condoleences to all the family..
Dominic Camilleri..

dawn wood (on 30/7/09)

what a shame another father, son and husband has has lost his life in a very tragic way , may god watch over his family and give them the strength to carry on through this difficult time. he wasnt only helping otrhers in life he has helped others in death what a hero, im pleased to say that as from tomorow im getting a donor card.

Gordon Farrugia (on 30/7/09)

a noble gesture of the family indeed

Mark Bonnici (on 30/7/09)

A truly noble-hearted man in life and in death.
An equally noble-hearted and courageous wife and family to perform this gesture at such a sad time in your life.
Thank you Cliff and Micallef family.

My deepest sympathies to Shirley and the children. May you find peace.

Mark Bonnici (Marsaskala)

ray pace (on 30/7/09)

Two weeks ago Cliff was present at the weekly meeting for Lifecycle cyclists and backup team members where true experiences were shared by Renal and other Transplant donors. Who had to say that a few days later he would be donating a cornea after his tragic death? Please enlist as organ donors and help Lifecycle and the Transplant Support Group.

Herta Gatt (on 30/7/09)

Mr Jeremy Gambin, to answer your question, a donor application can be obtained from Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital. I STRONGLY encourage organ donation!!!

Rest in Peace Cliff!!!

M Deguara (on 30/7/09)

Our sincere condolences to the Micallef's family. Cliff was a real gentleman...always going out of his way to help others...and yet today he gave his life for others. God will surely repay all his good deeds.
Let's follow Cliff's noble example...become an organ donor...here is the link to the Transplant Support Group...http://www.transplantsupport.com.mt/application.htm
Cliff you will be in our prayers

Galea. L (on 30/7/09)

The Lord picked two flowers blossoming this month.
May they rest in peace and condolences to their families.

Anne Marie Bonello (on 30/7/09)

@ Rebecca Farrugia

A donor card is not a legal document. It is the decision of certain members of the family whether to donate the organs or not. Most often one would know about and respect the decisions of those who they have lost, however if the family member refuses or is too distraught to think about donation at the time then their wishes are respected and the organs are not donated.

There might be the case however that a family member wouldn't know about their wish to donate before being told about the donor card, so its still nice to have one.

EMMY BEZZINA (on 30/7/09)

A very generous gesture indeed - generous to the end en route to the Spiritual World.Very strong willed widow too: my condolences. Though DEATH is mysterious in the way and manner it hits us - it is well to utilize opportunities like these, IN THEIR UTTER SADNESS & DESPONDENCY , to comment on the crass lack of road etiquette that we as a Nation of ever increasing motorists overtly have. There is no Road discipline, no observance of basic common sense Rules,such as those of overtaking,over speeding,noisy driving with these hooliganism dimudidimdudim [ born idiots at the wheel ],texting , receiving or calling from the cellular,talking from one moving car to another moving car, the list is literally endless: and yet our ROAD HAWKS as opposed to ROAD HOGS only focus on some Parking issue or a defective CAMERA senses speeding when it is not the Case,as those in the know are careful to drive apparently civilly in the CAMERAS ZONES. ROAD COURTESY CAMPAIGNS must be all year round not only in the Christmas Period as DRIVING DANGEROUSLY has become a hazard all year round,24/7,as this yet another fatality has shown.COMFORT TO THE WIDOW IN INCONSOLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Clive Bartolo (on 30/7/09)

May he rest in peace and his spirit live on in other cyclists and friends.

CLIFFORD VELLA (on 30/7/09)

I am very sorry for him. This is the second death with in a month concerning people who died when they were doing a charity. God bless them and we pray for them.

hsammut (on 30/7/09)

How noble.

May God grant him eternal rest and peace of mind and heart to his wife, children, relatives, family and friends at this difficult moment.

I do not know this guy but was so shocked reading the news, it is terrible to hit someone and carry on driving......lanqas kelb ma thallih fl-art ahseb u are bniedem. I do not know how the driver could ever be at peace with such a thought, may God grant him too the grace of His love.

No one can ever bring back the life of a husband, father of 3 young children, no punishment or money can ever compensate this great loss but do keep alive the spirit of Cliff who should be hounoured as one of Malta's great noble man who did great works in hidden quiet ways.

His family should be given Gieh ir-Republika.

Good luck to all the team, Cliff will be watching over you from above. my prayers go with you.

A.Saliba (on 30/7/09)

Swieqi United Football club expresses condolences to his wife and his family.

Antoine Saliba
Assistant coach
Swieqi United

ALEXANDER PACE GOUDER. (on 30/7/09)

My condolencesgo to Mr.Micallef''s Family. It may not be the right time to comment but I feel I must do so. I always go cycling in the early morning usually betweem 5.30 and 8.00am. There i9s no respect on the road at this time by 30% of car drivers. This comes mainly from Mini buses and taxes. These seem always to be in a medness hurry. Over 70Kilometers maybe also over 100Kilometers . This also comes from various Trucks such as Bread and Milk Trucks who want to effect their delivers as soon as possible. I live in St.Julians and then the cars coming out of Paceville. Driving is a nightmare. It is high time that the area of Paceville, St.Julians, St.Andrews, Bahar ic-Caghaq, St.Julians sea front mainly. from Spinola to Ghar id-dud Sliema be more petroled. Its like a race course. So is B'Kara Road in St.Julians. This road all through the night. If something is not done we are going to have more serious and deadly accidents especially during this summer. HOPE NOT>

Rebecca Farrugia (on 30/7/09)

This is why all healthy people, young and old, should carry donor cards. Even though his other organs could not be used, one person will be helped thanks to the donated cornea.

My thoughts with Mr. Micallef and his family

Frans Sammut (on 30/7/09)

What a lovely family! I am not only saddened but angered at Fate when I read such news. What can one say in such circumstances? If I can be of any help, let me know: 21460125.

Jeremy Gambin (on 30/7/09)

What must one do to obtain a donor's card ? lets use this tragedy and take an example from Cliff - let his death make more people become donors

anthony borg (on 30/7/09)

mhu ha ninsik qatt.............................

Kull filghodu kif naghmel matul il-gigha peress illi jien presentatur u xandar fuq stazzjon komunitarju nifah is-siti eletronici maltin ghal 'HEADLINES' tal-gurnata. Bi sfortuna kelli insib ir ritratt ta Cliff,wiehed mill hbieb tal-qalb tieghi li qattajt hafna zmien ta tfuliti mieghu.Ixokkjajt ruhi u ghadni nahseb fuqu il hin kollu.Cliff kien ragel ta veru qalbu tajba u mieghu kien jgawdi kullhadd.L ewwel xoghol li kelli kien propju mad ditta tieghu u niftakar lil ommu Doris missieru Max u huh Mickael.Iddispjacieni sal mewt li kellu jitlaq min maghna f dan il mod.Min hawn insellem lil familtu u lil uliedu ghax Cliff baqa bl istes karatru sal ahhar,QALBU TAD-DEHEB.Zgur illi il life cycle ta din is sena mhux ha tkun l istess minajr Cliff.
Ha Nimmisjak habib tieghi...........

toni tal arloggi

Vicki Azzopardi (on 30/7/09)

Mrs. Micallef - What a lovely gesture. Condolences to you and your family.

Cyclist's cornea to be donated

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