Last four days of an arduous journey left

Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge

After yesterday’s ride, Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge has four more days of arduous journeys on the pedal in the extreme heat of Oman. Over these remaining days they will cycle over 200 kilometres and for the next two days it will be on desert roads.

“We travelled another 200km yesterday, as we are getting accustomed to the temperature. We have found excellent roads and good camping facilities and on Friday we hit the coast, just south of Sur. Then we cycled between the desert and shark-infested waters!” said Alan Curry, founder of LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation.

It has often been said that an endurance challenge of this calibre requires both physical fitness and mental perseverance. Spending an average of eight hours a day on a bike will take a toll physically – with blisters, sores and bruises – along with a strong mentality. On days when the cyclists are surrounded by desert landscape, their frame of mind is just as important as much as their physical fitness to finish the day’s journey.

“As a Foundation, we raise awareness on renal disease and have often spoken about the ordeals through which patients go when on dialysis or receiving a donor kidney,” said Mr Curry. “We often compare the physical challenges we face as a way of showing support for renal patients. The psychological aspect of our challenge reminds us of the trauma and difficulties kidney patients go through when battling the disease.”

After many hours of desert roads, the cyclists and back-up team arrive at their destination – a camping site in the desert, and sleeping is again on sand. But there is still a silver lining – they watch the beauty of the sun sinking below the horizon over the sand dunes, as they sense the finishing line is getting closer.

For the past 19 years, LifeCycle Challenge has been raising money to help with the needs and care of kidney disease patients. LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation also supports research study at the University of Malta and generates further awareness on organ donations and organ transplants.

Donations can be pledged on-line on www.lifecyclechallenge.com and web visitors can view updates on the Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge on Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lifecyclechallenge