After 13 years, LifeCycle has become a foundation, making it a legal entity with clearly defined aims.
The LifeCycle organisation was set up in 1999 by Alan Curry after his wife went into the Renal Unit having suffered kidney failure.
He organised a cycling trip to his home town of Haydon Bridge in the UK as a way to raise funds – and awareness – for the unit, having seen first-hand the dedication of the staff and the courage of the patients that had to go there on a regular basis for hours at a time. He was accompanied by Tony Bugeja, then head nurse at the unit, who remains a staunch supporter of the organization and is still a member of its committee.
That first trip turned into an annual event to neighbouring countries, which grew year on year until in 2003, the group of cyclists actually went away by plane, adding complex logistics to the grueling endurance challenge. Over the past years, the cyclists have gone to over 25 countries – raising over €1 million - and dozens of cyclists are already training for this year's challenge, which will see them cycle 2,000km through 7 countries next August.
The foundation deed was signed by the LifeCycle committee members Mr Curry, Mr Bugeja, Shirley Cefai, Gilbert Vassallo, Soner Gurelli and Jennifer Chetcuti in the offices of International Management Services Ltd in the presence of lawyer Kathleen Zarb Adami, notary Elisa Falzon and company director Gordon Mifsud.
The foundation will be run by a supervisory council, composed of Mr Curry and Mr Bugeja along with Tim Peco. Its aim is to organise "high endurance bike rides to raise money and awareness for renal patients".
"This is the start of a fresh chapter for LifeCycle. There are so many memories to carry into the new era, but the team will remember today's milestone for a long time. On behalf of the Foundation members and our beneficiaries the renal patients, I would like to thank everyone that helped us make this happen, in particular International Management Services, all of whose professionals gave their services free of charge," Mr Curry said.
Donation lines are open:
SMS DONATIONS
5061 7370 €2.33
5061 8920 €6.99
5061 9229 €11.65
LANDLINE DONATIONS
5160 2020 €10
5170 2005 €15
5180 2006 €25
www.lifecyclechallenge.com