LifeCycle Foundation presented a donation of €18,000 to support the continued operation of the Traccia software at Mater Dei Hospital's Renal Unit. The presentation took place during a visit to the hospital, as the Foundation's team gears up for its first group training session ahead of the 2025 LifeCycle Challenge in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
This latest contribution continues LifeCycle's long-standing support for the advanced Traccia system, which plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of kidney donor-recipient matching. The Foundation's collaboration with the Ministry for Health dates back to 2017, when Traccia was first introduced at Mater Dei Hospital to assist clinicians in identifying the most compatible kidney transplant candidates.
The cheque was presented by LifeCycle (Malta) founder and chairman Alan Curry to Keith Attard, CEO of Mater Dei Hospital. The funds are part of the sum raised through the 2024 LifeCycle Challenge, which saw participants cycle 2,000 km from Botswana to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
"LifeCycle is committed not only to raising awareness about kidney disease, but also to actively supporting the systems and professionals that make life-saving kidney transplants possible," commented Curry. "Traccia is an invaluable tool in this mission, and we are proud to help ensure its continued use at Mater Dei."
In Malta, chronic kidney disease affects roughly one in ten people. The number of patients receiving haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis typically ranges between 350 and 400 at any given time. Kidney transplantation remains the most effective long-term treatment for renal failure, with approximately 20 to 25 procedures performed in Malta each year.
The Traccia software uses a sophisticated algorithm to optimise matches between donors and recipients based on clinical criteria such as dialysis duration, human tissue typing (HLA), age compatibility, hypersensitisation, and other factors. It supports better clinical decision-making, improves transplant outcomes, and ultimately enhances the quality of life for patients.
LifeCycle Foundation, established in 1999, continues to raise funds and awareness through its annual international cycling challenge. The Foundation's next major event is already on the horizon, with the 2025 LifeCycle Challenge team entering their initial group training phase in preparation for another demanding physical and fundraising journey in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, cycling all the way from Petra to Jeddah.
The 2025 LifeCycle Challenge is supported by the main sponsor Nescafé and other sponsors amongst whom are Hili Ventures, Smart Technologies Ltd, Brown's Pharmacy, M&Z plc, Nuum, Laferla Insurance and Valletta Waterfront.
For more information, one can visit https://lifecyclefoundation.com or https://www.facebook.com/LifeCycleChallenge
Donations to the LifeCycle Foundation can be made via Revolut on 9932 9101, by PayPal on this link: https://buff.ly/35g17CC and via SMS: 5061 7370 for €2.33; 5061 8920 for €6.99; 5061 9229 for €11.65; or via a call to 5160 2020 for €10; 5170 2005 for €15; and 5180 2006 for €25.
Donations can be made also via bank transfers via Swift code VALLMTMT, IBAN MT 18 VALL 22013000000014814521017, with the Bank name being Bank of Valletta, and account number 14814521017.
The LifeCycle Foundation is registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations - VO/0529