Betfair LifeCycle challenge team starts journey

A total of 33 cyclists yesterday afternoon left their family members behind to start their journey to Australia as part of the Betfair LifeCycle event to raise money for renal patients.

They will be cycling 1,900 kilometres from Brisbane to Melbourne, starting off on Sunday – just 30 hours after the team lands.

They are helped by 14 members of the back-up team as well as two cameramen who will be filming the event.

This is LifeCycle’s 14th challenge and the first time the event has taken place in the Southern Hemisphere.

The route is a 1,900km ride on mountain bikes and must be completed in just 10 days.

Alex Bonnici, 37, who is doing the challenge for the third time, said that although it is very tough morally and physically, it is always a very positive experience. This year’s challenge comes after an eight-year break for him and being in Australia, this year he made an extra effort to do it for a friend who needs the services at the Renal Unit.

Milk is Good Naturally is supporting the event and €1 is donated for every new ‘like’ on its Facebook page.

Willie Saliba, 60, is undertaking the challenge for the sixth time. He now knows what he is in for despite the fact that the challenge is taking place in a new continent. He has been participating in the LifeCycle event since 2007.

The challenge involves intensive training and it keeps him going all year round. At the same time, he knows the assistance the Renal Unit gets is never enough so the team tries to improve the quality of life of the patients as much as possible.

Donations can be made by cheque payable to LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation to:

LifeCycle Malta, c/o Renal Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Tal-Qroqq, MSD2090, Malta. SMS donations can be made to 5061-7370 (€2.33), 5061-8920 (€6.99) and 5061-9229 (€11.65). Landline donations can also be made on the following telephone numbers 5061-2020 (€10), 51702005 (€15), and 5180-2006 (€25).