Exhausted participants in this year’s Lifecycle Challenge were treated to a hero’s welcome on their arrival in Malta today.

Actor Edward Mercieca said he had a fantastic albeit tiring experience.

“It is a difficult country because culture and language is completely different. Some routes were quite dangerous, but it is typical of LifeCycle.”

Mr Mercieca said it is still too early to say whether he will take up the challenge against next year, but if asked today the answer would me no.

One man who has participated in the challenge six times said this year’s edition was one of the most difficult yet.

City traffic made life harder for the cyclists, and one 80km route completely disrupted the cyclists’ rhythm due to the sheer amount of traffic lights.

What is Lifecycle?

The LifeCycle Organisation was founded in 1999 to create awareness and generate support for patients suffering from end stage renal disease.

To do this it organizes the LifeCycle Challenge, which is one of the most gruelling endurance events in Europe, pitting a dedicated team of Maltese cyclists against the elements in a long distance ride through different countries all over the world. This event covers an average of 2,000km in a mere 10 days and is held annually in the summer months.

By putting such an extreme event together, LifeCycle intends to attract the Maltese public’s attention to the plight of patients of the Renal Unit, and to encourage generous donations from the public. In past years, LifeCycle has raised a considerable sum of money, helping the government to cover the approximate figure of €25,000/year per renal patient.

LifeCycle has three main aims:

§  To raise awareness about Renal Disease.

§  To raise funds for the high tech equipment necessary to upgrade the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.

§  To increase the quality of life of Renal Patients by allowing them access to cutting edge levels of care.

All the funds raised by LifeCycle are donated to the Ministry of Health.