The Lifecycle Challenge team yesterday received nothing but high praise and words of encouragement from President George Abela for going ahead with their "noble cause" despite losing one of their cyclists in tragic circumstances.

Dressed casually in an open shirt, Dr Abela sat with the team members for a chat at San Anton Palace. Curious about the event, he asked questions about their expectations, whether it was their first attempt and the weather's effect.

"What a feat - I admire your courage," he said.

He praised their decision to go ahead with the event after the death of their colleague Cliff Micallef, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on the Coast Road early on Thursday.

Mr Micallef, a father of three, had been training for the challenge when the incident happened at around 5 a.m. The motorist, Anthony Taliana, 21, from Ħamun, was tracked down by the police after his number plate fell right where he hit Mr Micallef. He has since been charged with manslaughter.

Dr Abela said life had to go on and the challenge was for a noble cause.

"We lost a close friend," Lifecycle chairman and event organiser Alan Curry said.

On Friday the team held a two-hour meeting with a counsellor and family therapist following the death of their colleague. Even though it was a difficult time for them, they decided to forge ahead, Mr Curry said.

"He (Cliff) would have wanted that," he added.

Mr Curry also told Dr Abela that he met Mr Micallef's family last week and they fully supported the team's decision to go ahead with the event.

Dr Abela said he was shocked after he found out yesterday that Mr Micallef's father was his neighbour when he used to live in Marsascala.

He praised the team for promoting sport as an important value, which was lacking in Maltese society.

Before they held a moment of silence to commemorate Mr Micallef's memory, Dr Abela promised the team they would meet again - after the event.

The team will cycle from Istanbul, through Turkey and Syria, to Damascus between Thursday and August 20.

The Lifecycle Organisation was launched to highlight the plight of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease and is a voluntary non-profit organisation that promotes organ donation by organising events and campaigns.