Thursday, 2nd July 2009
Lifecycle challenge - My experience so far...
My involvement with the Lifecycle organisation came through an email from a former colleague at a local television station Ingrid Scerri. I was asked to help Lifecycle with the PR - filming and photographs - a request I accepted immediately... little did I know that I would be required to travel also and later be involved in the committee to actually do the PR work! Although I had heard about Lifecycle before, I was never into it thus I searched on the web for any information relating to it and past editions of the Lifecycle Challenge. This year's edition is the 11th Lifecycle Challenge. It will take the cyclists and backup team on a 14-day challenge from Istanbul in Turkey through the Silk Road to Damascus in Syria.
My first visit to the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital was on Saturday, April 4, where I filmed an interview with one of the patients - Jeffrey Bonnici. Looking around, I could see all the hardship the patients, of all ages have to go through - three times a week for three to four hours each time - connected to a machine to filter their blood. The following day I was back at the Renal Unit where the first meeting for prospective cyclists and backup team was held. All present were shown around the Renal Unit by Ward Nursing Officer Anthony Bugeja who explained the process involved in filtrating each patient's blood.
Sunday April 19 saw the start of the official Sunday Ride for this year's challenge. The cyclists and backup team met outside Mater Dei Hospital where we were addressed by Lifecycle Malta Chairman Alan Curry, Betfair Manager Steve Ives and Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, after which the cyclists set off for their first 50km through B'Kara bypass, Lija, Targa Gap, Burmarrad, Salina, Bahar ic-Caghaq, St Julians, Sliema, Gzira and Ta' Xbiex before finishing off at Msida. While on the Salina coast road, the cyclists cycled to and fro on a circuit from St Paul's Bay roundabout to Bahar Ic-Caghaq. My thoughts while filming and taking photographs was on the lack of discipline and attention by drivers to the cyclists - I could see drivers passing so close to the cyclists that only a miracle saved any accidents that day!
The following weeks saw different routes being tackled and kilometres added so as to gradually reach the 200km each cyclist will have to cycle during the challenge. Not all rides were rosy - we had two cyclists who were unfortunately hit by cars, luckily not with serious injuries.
The past 10 weeks saw some cyclists drop out of the challenge and other join in. Training for this challenge requires sacrifice - it is no joke when one considers that all are employed and have to fit in around 80 to 200 km a day of cycling in between their work and family life. The committee and backup team have had their share of sacrifice also but all are in this for a just and noble cause.
Apart from training and logistics, all those involved in the challenge have to collect sponsorships and donations as this is an integral part of the Challenge to succeed.
Various fundraising activities have and are being organised by cyclists, backup team and other people to help raise the necessary funds that will be used to buy additional equipment for the Renal Unit and to support The Transplant Support Group. The Challenge reaches its peak when the equipment is handed over to the Renal Unit.
With less than five weeks to go for the start of this year's Betfair Lifecycle Challenge, the preparations are in full swing. Mario, Gilbert and Soner have just returned from the pre-visit in Turkey and Syria so as to finalise all outstanding permits, plot the route and checkpoints on the GPS and also to check all the accommodation and backup vehicles. All this work was explained in a presentation by Gilbert Vassallo during last Friday's cyclists and backup team meeting.
Donations can be made through landlines on 5004 9065 - €10, 5004 9060 - €20 and by SMS on 5061 8920 - €6.99, 5061 9229 - €11.65. Lifecycle thanks you in advance for your generosity.
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Comments
May God keep his hands on all the Cyclist and the committee who are doing a big sacrifice especially in this heat ,
I remember that the society (FSEG) I also form part in, in Gozo had also donated a Renal machine in 1994 for the Gozo General Hospital, but we were forced to hand it over to St Luke's Hospital as at GGH there was no staff trained in operating it. I also remember that another 2 machines from the Community Chest Fund were also diverted to St Luke's in 1997.
Finally Gozo got its Renal Unit thanks to a donation from the Gozo Channel Line. Nowadays one finds few organisations or agencies who are caring about the needs of the Gozitan people. All that one speaks about, is how to get the thousands of Euro and when we get the thousands of Euro or the equipment we do absolutely nothing. We always get the same excuses....that we need more money. Distributing funds or equipment should also be done in a fair manner. Thank you.