Twenty-three LifeCyclists and a seven-strong back-up support team including a medic, from Nescafé 3in1 LifeCycle Challenge are flying Emirates from Malta today to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. One more cyclist from Kenya will be joining the group in Vietnam. On Thursday (12th) they will start their daring Challenge, which is considered as one of the top ten toughest cycling challenges in the world.

Now in its 21st edition, the Challenge is held annually to raise money for persons suffering from kidney disease. The 2019 edition is taking the LifeCyclists through three beautiful Asian countries – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Sponsored by Nestlé’s signature brand Nescafé 3in1 for two consecutive years, the Challenge will take place between 12th and 21st September. The LifeCyclists will return to Malta on 24th September 2019.

On the first day, LifeCyclists will hit the saddle early morning from the outskirts of Vietnam’s capital Hanoi. They will cycle through many undulations and one tough 17km climb until they reach the idyllic town of Mai Chau. Every morning they will rise very early and cycle a distance of around 185 km to 220 km each day. Five vehicles driven by locals will follow the cyclists, with check-points every 40 km to 45 km.

The route will take the LifeCyclists through mountains and breath-taking views until on the fifth day they reach Xepon in Laos. From Laos they will cycle long distances through remote villages until they enter Stung Treng in Cambodia on the eight day. In Cambodia, they will experience some rough off-roads and may fend off some unfriendly animals, but roads should improve as they will reach their final destination being Angkor Wat, a Unesco Heritage Site, in Siem Reap.

“The three countries we are visiting all have beautiful landscapes, but the challenge is not easy. Spending 10 hours on the bike saddle in hot temperatures, living in very basic conditions, eating from a field kitchen and being away from your loved ones is a huge and complex challenge. But, I always tell LifeCyclists that your worst day on the bike is still better than a patient’s best day on dialysis. Ultimately, this is what LifeCycle Challenge is all about,” said LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry.

LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation is Malta’s only NGO that works tirelessly in raising funds to assist kidney patients, increasing specialised research study in kidney disease and generating further awareness about organ transplants in Malta.

Donate by Revolut on 99329101; 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.

For further updates and to donate towards LifeCycle Challenge 2019 on www.lifecyclefoundation.com or on Fb: https://www.facebook.com/LifeCycleChallenge/