HP is supporting the 2010 Betfair Lifecycle Challenge, a 2,000-kilometre charity cycle to raise funds for renal patients and the Transplant Support Group (Malta).

The Betfair Lifecycle Challenge will take place between August 15 and 29 and participants will cycle over 2,000 km from Venice to Manchester, travelling through seven countries, including Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France and England.

"As an HP employee, and a Maltese citizen, I am extremely pleased to see HP is helping the local community," said Michel Portelli, BCS channel sales manager, Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking EMEA, HP.

"I am always impressed at the amount of commitment and sacrifice participants put into this challenge. The Lifecycle organisation should really be praised for its hard work."

Chairman and organiser of Lifecycle Alan Curry said the funds raised from the challenge will help upgrade technology at the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.

Lifecycle was founded in 1999 to create awareness and support renal disease patients. It has since raised funds for high-tech equipment and helped improve the quality of life and levels of care of renal patients (www.lifecyclechallenge.com) HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. It brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems (www.hp.com/mt).

Donations to Lifecycle can be made online at www.lifecyclechallenge.com, by SMS on 5061 7370 (€2.33), 5061 8920 (€6.99) or 5061 9229 (€11.65), by calling 5004 9065 (€10), 5004 9060 (€20) or by cheque, addressed to Lifecycle Malta, c/o Renal Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Tal-Qroqq MSD 2090.

LifeCycle has also opened a donation line for €50 on 5004 9063, which allows people to participate in a lottery draw, whereby they can win a weekend in Manchester, all expenses paid, and also win a ticket to a Manchester football match.