A group of 23 fundraisers have set off on a 10-day cycle marathon across Japan earlier today as part of the 16th annual Life Cycle Challenge.
The cyclists, who will be joined by a group of 13 backup crewmen, will pedal across more than 2,000 KM from Fukuoka in South Japan to Tokyo. They left Malta this afternoon.
The campaign has raised some €120,000 this year alone for the Mater Dei Hospital Renal Unit and participants hope to raise a further €20,000 while cycling in Japan.
Julian Grima, 25, the youngest of the cyclists, told Times of Malta he felt exhilarated by the challenge and hoped his training would serve as a good spring board for the gruelling trek.
“I’m a doctor so this is something close to my heart. I’m excited, I don’t know what to expect from all of this,” he said.
Life Cycle will this year donate €35,000 for a 24/7 dialysis machine. The rest of the funds will go towards other forms of medical equipment as well as donations for prevention campaigns, other equipment and research.