The funds have been used for the purchase of a range of equipment, including machines for the monitoring of dry weight during dialysis by means of blood volume measuring, a wheelchair scale to facilitate weighing of patients in wheelchairs; a cycling machine for use while patients are on haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis machines for home use and a non-invasive haemoglobin reader which does not require blood sampling.

Funds will also be used for the training of renal unit staff.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Joe Cassar, who received the equipment in a ceremony today, thanked LifeCycle and HSBC for their annual effort to ensure that patients receiving treatment at the Renal Unit are given a more complete service.

Alan Curry, President of the LifeCycle Organisation, said the increase in this year’s funds was probably directly related to a 50 per cent increase in riders’ participation, which from 26 last year went up to 39 this year.

HSBC has continued to support the LifeCycle Organisation by doubling funds collected by its staff to an overall total of €3,155.

The Renal Unit is one of the largest and busiest units at Mater Dei Hospital, with over 200 patients suffering from renal failure using its services. Some 120 patients visit the unit three times a week for four hours of haemodialsyis. The rest perform peritoneal dialysis themselves at home.

Since its inception in 1999, the LifeCycle Organisation provided over €200,000 worth of peritoneal dialysis machines, enabling patients to perform dialysis at home and during the night.

At EUR20.  Please email info@lifecyclechallenge.com for more information. 

date: 12th September 2008
time: 7pm (meeting in front of Chequers Sliema)
Price: 18 euros per person (instead of 45EUR)
Buffet & DJ included

Certificates will be given to all participants.

Book by the 10th of September by calling Alexandra  on 79371781.

Relatives and friends are welcome!!

Although the team were shocked to see this happening in front of their eyes, the police withheld the passports of Audrick Plum & Mark Zammit, while they were detained for interrogation.

Diplomatic contacts in both Malta and Morocco were immediately informed of the case. Fortunately the situation was quickly resolved.  The police explained that this is not an exceptional case since this occurs quire frequently at the Morrocan border.

Currently the convoy is expected to board the ferry to Spain this night. They will arrive in Malta this Sunday evening.

Update 1: The challenge is over for the cyclists but complications are not over for the life cycle backup team when Morroco customs realized that strangers opened the truck carrying the cyclist’s bikes and other equipment without permission. Currently the truck and drivers are being held by police for further investigation.

The General Public is urged to welcome the cyclists at their arrival

Everyone was be aware of the fact that accidents or problems can still happen on the last day and the participants commanded their excitement and high spirits to make sure they reach their Final Checkpoint safely.

The Moroccan police kindly escorted the cyclists as they entered into the heart of Casablanca to the picturesque finish at the Mosque. The atmosphere was palpably beautiful as the cyclists joyfully celebrated their great success!!!

From the 15th August till the 25th August…HSBC Lifecycle 2008 has cycled from Lourdes to Casablanca.

Congratulations to all participants!!

It has been a long trip and I hope you have enjoyed listening to our travels.

Lifecycle will be back bigger and better next year as we travel all over the world to raise money for Renal Disease patients.

More detailed information and photos will be uploaded as soon as we receive them from Casablanca or Madrid. Currently, the team is experiencing problems connecting with the Internet and to send us the updates. We thank you for your patience.

Click here to view the youtube link

Click here to view HSBC Life Cycle Challenge Photos (Latest photos received for day 7)

Click here to check out the cyclist’s current position. This service is available thanks to DATATRAK.

The Green Dot shows the position of a Lifecycle support van on the route in the last 5minutes.

You can zoom in and out of the map.

Press Satellite Button to see satellite photos instead of map.

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Click here to view the youtube link

Click here to view HSBC Life Cycle Challenge Photos (Latest photos received for day 7)

Click here to check out the cyclist’s current position. This service is available thanks to DATATRAK.

The Green Dot shows the position of a Lifecycle support van on the route in the last 5minutes.

You can zoom in and out of the map.

Press Satellite Button to see satellite photos instead of map.

(Make sure you are using Internet Explorer)

It seems that when ever we cross the borders we encounter problems. The customes in Morocoo didnt want the cyclists to cycle in Morocco. When the pre visit team ( 6weeks ago) checked on this, we were told that they can. At the port the HSBC Life Cycle team met a moroccean guy El Samir Moussat, whom we arranged with him some weeks ago to join the trip, who made easier for them. Whilst in Malta Karen Zammit was trying to get some help from key officils in Malta. Being a Saturday we couldnt send emails or letters - so we got the telephone no of the Head of Protocol in case of emergency.

During all this the cyclists were on the ferry crossing from Algeciras to Tangiers. When they arrived they had to set the bike & prepare to start the 96km ride to Chefchoeun. The ride was not as hard as it was in the last days in Spain, but the heat was exhausting all the cyclists and making it difficult to cycle. They arrived to a very beautiful town Chefeoun - the gem. The accomodation is very nice & comfortable. Also today the cyslists had a great meal in a restaurant waiting for them, an extra treat …

UPDATE 1: A short day complicated by the fact that it will start late, so under the merciless baleful glare of the sun. Cyclists are slathering on sunblock and preparing for their  epic trip. Fortunately the profile of the trip itself should not be too difficult with unspectacular uphills and downhills, however every precaution must be taken to make sure the cyclists are not suffering the effects of excessive heat.

Click here to view the youtube link

Click here to view HSBC Life Cycle Challenge Photos (Latest photos received for day 6)

Click here to check out the cyclist’s current position. This service is available thanks to DATATRAK.

The Green Dot shows the position of a Lifecycle support van on the route in the last 5minutes.

You can zoom in and out of the map.

Press Satellite Button to see satellite photos instead of map.

(Make sure you are using Internet Explorer)

Today is the last day in Europe as during the night and early morning, the life cycle contigent will cross over to the African Continent. The team will be split in two. The first team headed by Audrick Plum will cross with 2:30am ferry. This group will consist mainly of the backup personnel and some cyclists. The second group will traverse the Strait later on in the morning permitting those cyclists who most need to rest to sleep a bit more.

Thank goodness, today no more cyclists were reported to have dropped from the challenge till now.

UPDATE 1: Lifecycle’s Last Day in Europe! Today the lifecyclists travel to Algericias where they will stay for the night before catching a ferry down to Tangiers. This affords them a much needed morning’s break, where they will be able to prepare themselves mentally for the trip in Morocco. The ferry crossing will allow them to relax until 11am, where they will begin their cycle.

This takes nothing away from this day, which is yet another day of steep gradients and tough roads. Again, one hopes the cyclists will be in before dark.

Click here to view the youtube link

Click here to view HSBC Life Cycle Challenge Photos (Latest photos received for day 7)

Click here to check out the cyclist’s current position. This service is available thanks to DATATRAK.

The Green Dot shows the position of a Lifecycle support van on the route in the last 5minutes.

You can zoom in and out of the map.

Press Satellite Button to see satellite photos instead of map.

(Make sure you are using Internet Explorer)

UPDATE 1 & 2: Yesterday’s ride was the toughest since the beginning of the challenge. Unfortunately 6 cyclists had to stop towards the end of the day when they were 29km away from Jaen, yesterday’s final destination.  The cyclists gave their very utmost; however at around 2am (after 18hrs of cycling), the injuries and exhaustion took their toll. On top of this, they had to battle against the complete darkness of this night.

Although most of the cyclists carried torches, these were not sufficient and thus a backup vehicle followed them closely to provide as much light as possible with its headlamps. These efforts proved to be useless for these 6 cyclists as they were picked up one by one by the backup vehicles at various points along the road. The cyclists’ injuries varied from severe saddle-sores (due to the long hours on the bike), knee and muscle injuries and exhaustion. Hence the number of cyclists who withdrew since the start of the challenge totals ten.

Today, the challenge continues in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas where there are several steep gradients on this 170km day. The cyclists are by now used to the drill in Life Cycle and are working hard to achieve their goal. They know that once they are out of the mountain range they no longer have to deal with the demanding steep gradients, and will therefore make better time.

Just one more push and another couple of days, and the shores of Morocco beckon…

Watch this space for more updates during the day

Click here to view the youtube link

Click here to view HSBC Life Cycle Challenge Photos (Latest photos received for day 5)

Click here to check out the cyclist’s current position. This service is available thanks to DATATRAK.

The Green Dot shows the position of a Lifecycle support van on the route in the last 5minutes.

You can zoom in and out of the map.

Press Satellite Button to see satellite photos instead of map.

(Make sure you are using Internet Explorer)