LifeCycle is the only charity in Malta that raises funds and awareness for patients suffering from renal failure and has been doing so for 20 years.
Dr Shirley Cefai, Conservation Architect within the Department of Conservation and the Built Heritage, Chairperson LifeCycle Malta Foundation will be taking part in this annual challenge and would like your support for the great work done by the LifeCycle Foundation.
Dr Shirley Cefai says:
'This year at the grand old age of 55 I am once again taking part in the annual Life Cycle challenge – Foster Clark’s LifeCycle Challenge – the Arabian Knights - in order to raise both awareness and funds for persons suffering from renal failure. This will be my 4th attempt as a cyclist. On my first trial I fell into a 2m ditch, the second attempt I suffered 15 at least nasty falls on off-road, and in my third attempt I suffered serious saddle sores. This year I will attempt once more – failure is only when one stops trying.
This year's challenge will be a 2000km mountain bike ride from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) to Salalah (Oman) over 10 days an average of 180-200km per day! That means in the saddle for 9-10 hours and with a time limit in place too! The temperatures will reach 40 degrees and the terrain will be diverse, from severe climbs to desert roads and undulating coastal routes along the Arabian Sea. There will be no luxury either, as our overnight accommodation will be predominantly campsites with basic amenities.
LifeCycle is the only charity in Malta that raises funds and awareness for patients suffering from renal failure and has been doing so for 20 years. This year our "wish list" from the renal staff on behalf of the patients is as follows:
- Lifecycle has agreed to finance once again 'Traccia' the data information of recipients on the waiting list for Kidney Transplant. This data will incorporate all the HLA (Tissue Typing) of all active recipients on the waiting list, which will update itself every 3 months. This is a very important tool which will determine who is the best recipient for that particular kidney donor. At present approximately 22 transplants are carried out every year. Hopefully this will help increase that number?
- The Psychological services that we had worked hard to put in place last year is now ready to be offered to all patients on Renal Replacement Therapies. This service will also be offered to Kidney Transplant’s recipients and Living Donors. We are also planning to offer Psychological support to the relatives of deceased donors.
- Lifecycle will also continue to finance the leasing of the Patient’s Transport van during the Twilight sessions which means patients have more flexibility in their treatment times which can take up to 4 hours.
- Lifecycle will also continue to sponsor patients on Renal Replacement Therapies who go to the annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
If you are sponsoring from overseas your money will be put into a newly set up Fellowship purposely for research into renal failure and you will be kept updated on the programme being.
LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation has donated in the region of EUR 150,000 to the University of Malta towards research in the field of kidney failure in children.'
