Sir Alex Ferguson greets Lifecycle team at Old Trafford Stadium
Lifecyclists and their back-up team proudly entered Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester this afternoon, escorted by members of Stockport Fire Brigade to be greeted by none other than the Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United Football Club.
The team had just completed a gruelling 2,100 kilometre ride from Venice, which saw them cycling through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France before finishing in the UK.
The challengers were also greeted by several family members who gave them a huge welcome, making it a noisy and emotional scene.
Sir Alex spent 15 to 20 minutes signing shirts and autographs for the team and expressed amazement at their courage and determination.
Whitehall Fire Station Commander Chris Mylock and Malcolm Leatherbarrow, a retired member of the Greater Manchester Fire Service and who now resides in Mellieha, organised the welcome for the very tired cyclists.
Lifecycle chairman Alan Curry said it was one of the most glamorous finishes possible, and with many football fans in the team giving the team the added inspiration to go to the finish line.
The group, he said, was a credit to Malta for what they had done for persons less fortunate than themselves.
Lifecycle organises an annual cycling challenge to collect funds for the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.
Tomorrow, many of the team have tickets for the Manchester United vs Westham game at Old Trafford, thanks to the efforts of Betfair and the Manchester United Supporters Club in Malta.
Those who are not football fans will take the opportunity to rest, recharge and shop before the team gets together for a celebratory meal at Old Trafford in the evening.
The team will be returning to Malta from Manchester on Sunday on flight KM139, due in at 2.50 p.m.
Donations can be made through the website www.lifecyclechallenge.com or by texting 5061 7370 to donate €2.33, 5061 8920 for €7 and 5061 9229 for €11.65. One can also phone 5004 9065 to give €10, 5004 9060 for €20 on 5004 9063 for €50.
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Charles Mulligan
Aug 29th 2010, 05:53
Well Done Pete!!! (Peter Mifsud)
Congratulations and well done to all the Lifecycle Team,the back up team and their families.
Truly, truly remarkable and for such a good cause. You have done Malta and the Maltese overseas proud.
Amy Joan Zahra
Aug 28th 2010, 10:46
Well done guys and gals....so proud of you :) :)
Robert Lewis
Aug 28th 2010, 09:25
Congratulations to cyclist Clifton Lewis, all the cyclists, and the back up team for the big effort and the difficulties which you went through in these last 2 weeks, especially the bad weather which wasn't in your favour. Hope you enjoy the football match this evening at Old Trafford, Man.Utd versus West Ham, and that you have the rest of the day enjoying Manchester. We urge everyone to give the team a big and warm welcome at Malta Airport tomorrow afternoon, at 1450hrs travelling from Manchester on flight KM139, and that all of you have a safe journey back home. It will be nice as well to give a warm welcome to the rest of the party who will not be traveling together tomorrow, including our son, but will be arriving on Wednesday evening due that they have to drive the back up vehicles back to Venice and Malta.
Very well done again.
Mum and Dad
Keith Caruana
Aug 28th 2010, 09:00
Well done to all members who participated in this challenge, making this activity helpful to those in need and enjoyable to all spectators and supporters.
Joseph Mizzi
Aug 28th 2010, 08:02
Congratulations to all the team - especially to our colleage, Dr Victor Calvagna.
alfie lewis
Aug 28th 2010, 07:33
Congrats to all and well done for your great effort. You all makes us proud. Now have a great time and enjoy yourselves you surely have earned it. Thanks to all
alfie lewis
Mario Busuttil
Aug 28th 2010, 00:22
WELL DONE TO ALL MEMBERS OF LIFECYCLE TEAM ESPECIALLY TO MY FRIENDS ROBERT,COLIN AND STEVE....WELLL DONE MY FRIENDS ...
Andrew Cumbo
Aug 28th 2010, 00:16
Your dreams came true near the theatre of dreams, a successful ending with a successful Man.
WELL DONE AND THANK YOU.
Mary & Geoffrey Fisher
Aug 27th 2010, 23:33
Congratulations and well done to all the members of this wonderful team and how better to end this feat than our home town of Manchester. Superb !!!!!!!!!
Freda Busuttil
Aug 27th 2010, 22:42
Malta is very proud of you! Renal Unit is very grateful! May God bless you all.
Vince Tanti
Aug 27th 2010, 21:49
Congrats to all. In all probaability you'll be in for a treat or a goal feast,but as a Hammer I hope you will be disappointed! United are the best and a tribute to the English game........ But still Up the hammers!and have a safe trip back home guys.
Kevin Zammit
Aug 27th 2010, 21:41
We can call Italy our closest neighbor for hundreds of years until we're done in more than one sense but at then end of the day why is it that we seem to be able to press the english buttons better still? or is it because we have come to both appreciate the best things in life more than anybody else?
D. Farrugia
Aug 27th 2010, 23:35
@ Kevin Zammit:
Let's not be too biased my friend. Just for your information - such activities are organised even with Italian clubs, and clubs from other countries for that matter. For example, did you forget all the kind gestures and attention that the Milan players and Ancelotti gave to the local people who are less fortunate during Milan's visit to Malta in 2007? Clubs from all over the world do this, not only English and Italian clubs!!
We are lucky that as a country, despite our size, we have contacts with virtually every significant club in such great countries such as England and Italy, and even with some German clubs, all due to the dedication of various supporter clubs in Malta.
That said, I am happy that the Lifecycle team got to meet such a great person like Sir Alex Ferguson ! It is only fitting, as these people made us fellow Maltese proud, and they deserve to be treated in this way after such an admirable feat. A big well done to all the participants, you made Malta proud. Keep it up !!!
Janice Buttigieg
Aug 27th 2010, 21:33
Well done to all the Lifecyclists. Thankyou all so much for the fundraising that you do for the Renal Unit.
A. Briffa
Aug 27th 2010, 21:33
You are making people dream just like 'The theather of dreams' !
Well done !!
Joseph E Briffa
Aug 27th 2010, 21:19
Congrats to everyone......
Charles Micallef
Aug 27th 2010, 20:51
Well Done to the team, Malta is proud of you and you could not have ended your journey in a more magnificent venue than our beloved Old Trafford!
D.Zammit
Aug 27th 2010, 19:37
Proset , for the effort.
S Vella
Aug 27th 2010, 19:37
Very well done Life Cycle Team.. may god bless you all and give you a safe journey home...WELL DONE
Jesmond Micallef
Aug 27th 2010, 19:35
Very well done to all the members of the Lifecycle Team. Malta is very proud of you. You deserve a very good rest now. Nice, well done indeed.
JOSEPH CURMI
Aug 27th 2010, 19:33
Hi To all,
A big well done for all your personal sacrifices both in training and the successful outcome of the gruelling event. Prosit Tassew, you should be proud of yourselves. We wish you a safe return to your loved ones!!
Joe and Doreen Curmi.