The LifeCycle Challenge 2018 has sealed its lead sponsorship with Foster Clark Products Ltd for the second year running.
The Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge 2018 will take place between September 28 and October 12.
The sponsorship agreement was signed yesterday when Foster Clark’s managing director, Joseph Busuttil, presented a sponsorship cheque of €25,000 to LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation chairperson Shirley Cefai.
The presentation was held at Foster Clark Products Ltd in San Ġwann in the presence of Economy Minister Chris Cardona and LifeCycle Challenge founder Alan Curry.
“With Foster Clark’s contribution to the LifeCycle Challenge, we are facilitating further research studies in kidney disease so that, eventually, renal patients will have a further improved treatment,” Foster Clark’s head of operations, John Schembri, said.
“We admire and believe in LifeCycle Foundation’s mission, as it is the only dedicated NGO that has been supporting persons suffering from kidney diseases over the past 20 years.”
In fact, the funds being raised by LifeCycle participants will again go towards the needs and care of kidney disease patients.
The foundation aims to raise the substantial sum of €150,000 to sustain its current and new projects
Apart from lifesaving equipment and improved facilities, LifeCycle is sponsoring a Twilight Shift Van to transport patients to and from Mater Dei Hospital for evening dialysis sessions.
Funds will also be used for the software matching programme, called Traccia, which determines the best recipient for a kidney donation.
LifeCycle Foundation also offers a part sponsorship of the annual trip to Lourdes for patients and accompanying medical staff. The foundation aims to raise the substantial sum of €150,000 to sustain its current and new projects for 2018-19.
Thanking Foster Clark for its contribution, Mr Curry said the money will go to an ongoing kidney research programme at the University of Malta, which came to fruition with LifeCycle Foundation’s initial donation in 2014 and again in 2017.
The study is focusing mainly on the genetics and pathophysiology of rare kidney diseases in children. Turning to this year’s challenge, Mr Curry said it will be “a very tough one”.
“Our biggest challenges, as always, are the distance, cycling daily for 10 days, and the basic accommodation in night camps, in addition to the daunting prospects of extreme heat, humidity and mountainous terrain. In terms of making the venture happen, it is a 12-month military style operation, which is hard work, but we love doing it.”
The 25 cyclists – 22 men and three women – hailing from Malta, Albania, Kenya, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK – will travel to Dubai and cycle 2,000 kilometres to Salalah, in southern Oman.
The route will take the participants from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, Dank, Nizwa and Al Wasil.
From Al Wasil they will cycle for three days through the desert until they reach Shalim Wa Juzor and arrive in Salalah on the 10th day.
Donations can be made via SMS: 5061 7370 – €2.33, 5061 8920 – €6.99, 5061 9229 – €11.65, or call 5160 2020 – €10, 5170 2005 – €15 and 5180 2006 – €25.
Bank details are Swift code VALLMTMT, IBAN MT 18 VALL 22013000000014814521017, bank name Bank of Valletta, account number 14814521017.