There are a number of things that have started out in Malta and gone on to become world famous. Twistees – our cheesy snacks, for instance; or pastizzi – our little globe-trotting pies… they’re both known the world over as ‘being Maltese’.

However, even more impressively, Malta has also become known as the base for one of the Europe’s most gruelling endurance events, LifeCycle – a cycling journey that covers an average of 2,000km in a mere 10 days and is held annually in October.

In fact, it is incredible quite how much LifeCycle has grown since it first started in 1999. What began as a personal mission for founder Alan Curry to attract attention to the plight of patients suffering from renal failure in Malta, has gone on to raise an estimated €2,000,000 – and attract the attention of cyclists and sportspeople the world over.

And it’s really grown in size too. In the first LifeCycle, four cyclists went from Malta to Newcastle over 21 days. Since then, the constantly-developing team has gone from Paris to Madrid, from Venice to Manchester, from Fukuoka to Tokyo in Japan, and last year, from Nairobi in Kenya to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This year, the team of 25 cyclists plus support staff will be going from Dubai in UAE to Salalah in Oman in October – and they are already in serious training mode, with Alan – a personal trainer – at the helm.

“My own personal motivation has been to always keep going, on and off the bike,” Alan smiles when asked about his inspiration over the last 20 years. “What started as a means to thank the Renal Unit staff who had looked after my wife when she had kidney failure, has gone on to become a lifelong mission shared by hundreds of people.”

Today, Alan can’t quite believe that something he started has gone on to become known as one of the world’s top 10 most gruelling challenges, but that is exactly what has happened. “I think that’s something that Malta can be very proud of,” he continues. “I sincerely hope the Maltese public – and anyone based here or visiting the island – will continue to support us, so that we can continue to make a significant positive difference to the lives of those struck down with kidney failure.”

The LifeCycle Foundation aims to raise the substantial sum of €150,000 to sustain its current and new projects in 2018. For more information about LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation and Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge, please visit www.lifecyclechallenge.com. One can donate via SMS: 5061 7370 = €2.33; 5061 8920 = €6.99; 5061 9229 = €11.65; or via a call to 5160 2020 = €10, 5170 2005 = €15; and 5180 2006 = €25. Bank details are Swift code VALLMTMT, IBAN number MT 18 VALL 22013000000014814521017, Bank name Bank of Valletta, Account number 14814521017.