Lifecycle is again organising its annual event which is now in its eighth year. Taking part this year will be 62 cyclists, who started their preparations way back in April – soon after Easter. In a few days the cyclists, and a back-up group, will depart for Oslo, Norway, where this year’s event gets under way on 31 July. The route this year takes the group to Scandinavia. In fact it starts in Norway, then moves on to Sweden and finishes in Finland on 11 August. Over that period, the cyclists will have cycled 2,018 kilometres, that is, an average of over 180 kilometres every day. And all this is done to generate funds for a most noble cause – the Renal Unit at St Luke’s Hospital. Henry Brincat has spoken to some of the cyclists who will be taking part in this year’s event.

Next Sunday, 30 July, a group of around 80 people, consisting of cyclists and back-up personnel, will be leaving Malta on their way to Oslo in Norway.

The day after, they will start this year’s Travelex Lifecycle Challenge 2006, an event in aid of the Renal Unit at St Luke’s Hospital, in the hope that they will collect enough money to reach their aim, which is to buy some portable equipment that will definitely ease patients’ lives.

At present, due to the lack of these facilities, patients are suffering a great deal. In fact, they have to travel to St Luke’s Hospital at least three times a week to undergo four-hour dialysis sessions as part of their treatment.

Around 20 of the group of 62 cyclists will be ladies. One of them, 44-year-old Marcette Aquilina, told me that she was taking part for the first time. “I have always been an active person and have been doing aerobics for quite some time. Now I am attending a spinning class at St Aloysius College Gym under the charge of Lifecycle coach Alan Curry, who is always on the lookout for potential

participants for the event,” she said.

Marcette has found full support from her husband Stephen. “He could also have formed part of the back-up team, but I must say that had it not been for his work and collaboration at home, there would have been no Lifecycle for me. In fact, I started training way back in April, soon after Easter. It takes a whole 17 weeks to get in shape for the event and this entailed sessions of training lasting nine hours per week, up to 32 hours.

“Sometimes we go through very intensive one hour training sessions on the hills. This is also complemented with some spinning sessions at the gym and some weight training. Every Sunday we also meet as a group and work together as a team. It is part of the routine and it helps to build discipline in the group. We will certainly need it when we start the event, especially over the longest lap – a 270km ride on day 5. In all, by the end we will have cycled 2,018 kilometres,” she said.

Marcette says it is everyone’s responsibility to get to know the route. “We all work in groups, but over there it could be different, as all the cyclists will be on their own. Her group includes Marika Mizzi, Diane Abdilla, Graziella Santillo and Elaine Fenech.

So far this year, the sum of around Lm55,000 has been collected. “But it is definitely not enough. We need to buy these dialysis machines for the homes. Those families who have a relative suffering from renal failure will appreciate what we are trying to do. We want to make the whole of Malta conscious of how important it is to become a donor for this noble cause,” she said.

Another cyclist looking forward to the event is 45-year-old Alex Gollcher.

He started cycling in July last year and it has now become part of his life.

He says that to take part in the event is a serious commitment of time and energy. “I have been training regularly for the last nine months, both at the gym and on the road, sometimes with other life-cyclists or on my own”.”

Alex had special words of praise for his wife Claudia and his son Alistair. Had it not been for their total support of his endeavour, he said, his participation would have collapsed.Alex is the managing director of Image Systems at Xerox, and although he has to keep his work in perspective, he says the event will not interfere with his position.

“I am totally motivated, especially because it is in aid of others who desperately need help and support to cling on to precious life. It is when one meets such patients that one gets to appreciate their need for help. The fact that my participation is affecting others in my own community is also a highly motivating factor,” he added.

Gollcher said it is a personal challenge but concedes it is also a fulfilling experience. “I have been blessed with good health and a fair slice of good luck in life. Now I feel it is time to give something back. I know I have lost a few friends through kidney disease. That is when one also gets to realise what this illness really means. My participation in the event is a sort of celebration of life to help compensate for losing them and to help others to live – what greater gift is there than life?” he said.

When asked who had persuaded him to take part in the event, Gollcher said: “No one, really. But the death of my friend Richard Aquilina, the former Sliema and Malta footballer, played a great part in my decision to participate. His loss was hard to accept, but this is a way of honouring his life and his many good examples – he was a man who touched the lives of many and should be remembered. When I was a youngster, he was a role model for me. It is a pity that one, perhaps, does not find such persons as Richard today,” he said.

He thanked all those who have supported him and appealed to all Maltese to be generous in making a donation, small as it may be, to help the Renal Unit at St Luke’s Hospital.

John Farrugia, 39, is the Value Added Services manager at go mobile and is also looking forward to a successful Lifecycle 2006.

He says the aim behind this year’s “mission” was to try and make life a little more comfortable for patients by giving them dialysis treatment at home through portable devices. “This is where this year’s donations will go,” he said. He added: “Throughout the event we also promote organ donation to the general public, as it is through such generous individual acts that lives can be saved or improved.”

Farrugia said the Lifecycle event has been going on for eight years now. “It all started on an initiative from Alan Curry. His wife suffered from kidney problems and he thought of doing something to help other similar sufferers. Since the first Lifecycle, the number of cyclists has always been on the increase. This year, we will be 62 in all – the biggest number ever. One third of them consists of female riders and that is very encouraging. However, it is getting tougher on the organisers, especially as it is a day-to-day event,” he said.

He explained that cyclists have to qualify to take part in the event. “They have to reach certain fitness levels, make compulsory visits to the Renal Unit, attend meetings every Friday for continuous updates on the event and take part in Sunday rides. Through these activities, one can get points which makes one eligible for participation,” he added. Such an endurance event requires a lot of mental and physical preparation and Mr Farrugia thanked all those who have supported him over the last five months, namely his partner, Carolyn, who is also one of the physiotherapists on the back-up team, his family, friends, other team members and work colleagues.

Farrugia stated that sponsors are needed – every one must be aware by now that the donations go towards a very good and worthwhile cause. He added that the organising committee has always been well organised. “They plan the event well ahead. There has to be a back-up team taking care of the logistics, including planning the route. There have to be those who prepare the food (snacks in the morning and a meal in the evening) as well as the medical team consisting of two doctors and four physiotherapists.”

The bikes were on their way to Oslo 12 days ago, he said. “When we arrive there, a day before the start, we have to unpack them and get them ready for the start of the gruelling event, which has become one of the biggest charitable challenges organised locally,” he said.

Another cyclist, Matthew Joe Grima, is only 20 years old and is reading medicine at the University of Malta. But it is already the fourth time that he is taking part in the event.

The first one was the Manchester to Scotland and back, then he took part in the Paris-Madrid event and that was followed by the Hungary to Greece event of last year.

“I was successful every time, and I hope I will have a repeat performance this year. The first one was tougher, as I was inexperienced and did not do enough training because of my studies, preparing for A levels. I started cycling through Lifecycle. This year’s event will probably be more enjoyable for me as I love nature and I am told that the route includes several scenic beauties including some fjords.

“However, it is a big challenge, not a joy ride. I am doing it with the primary aim of helping patients who suffer from renal failure. I am well aware of what they go through.”

Matthew has trained hard for this year’s event, recently cycling around 150 kms a day to make up for what he lost in previous months due to his studies. “Rain or shine, I have always maintained my commitment and that is why I am confident I will again be successful,” he said.

He also thanked those who have sponsored him, especially his parents who have paid his air fare.

The last cyclist I met was Ray Abela, 52, who works as a clerk at Trelleborg.

He is taking part in the event for the fourth time. “The first was in 2001 in the Tri-island Challenge between Malta, Gozo and Sicily. The second event was the year after, in 2002, from Malta to Assisi. It was named the Challenge of Hope. In 2004, I took part in the event from Paris to Madrid, called the Pyrenees Crusade. And now comes this fourth event in Scandinavia which has been given the name of ‘Over the Top’,” he explained.

Ray, a sportsman for many years, considers cycling as part of a keep fit regime. Since taking part in these events, he has had to train harder. “This year was no exception. I took the decision to take part in January and since then, I have cycled around 12,000 kms. Even when I take my kids for a 90-minute swimming session at the pool, I go for a ride until it is time to pick them up and take them home,” he said.

John is also conscious of the fact that Scandinavia can offer a very tough challenge due to the different climate. “Over there it is likely to be cold. We might also encounter some storms, even at this time of the year. But knowing that you’re doing it for a worthwhile cause will give you the determination to carry on till the very end. And that is what I am hoping to do this year,” he added.

Ray said this will be a very big challenge for all the cyclists taking part. “We know that some of the roads are not asphalted and that will be the tougher part of the event. However, I am convinced that I will overcome all obstacles. That will provide me with a lot of satisfaction – the knowledge that I am giving something back to others, especially hope for a better life in the future,” he said.

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