A 4-day 100 miles walk along Hadrian’s Wall in the UK is LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation’s latest initiative being held instead of the planned annual LifeCycle Challenge. Called LifeWalk Challenge, this will be a coast to coast walk the length of the historic Roman Wall that has been standing for centuries in the beautiful Northumberland countryside. Furthermore, Nestlé Malta has confirmed its sponsorship of LifeWalk, following the Foundation’s decision to postpone the coming cycle challenge due to Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, Nestlé Malta will still be sustaining this first LifeWalk Challenge with its iconic coffee brand Nescafé as title sponsor.  

All money raised through LifeWalk will go towards the Foundation’s R.U.S.H (Renal Unit Support Heath Hub), a psychological support voucher scheme, in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Psychologists, through which renal patients in Malta and Gozo are able to get free initial psychology therapy. It is a known fact that renal patients undergoing dialysis or transplant procedures suffer from serious psychological issues that are often overlooked. Renal failure is a deadly, painful, multifaceted disease. While considering that the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity is on the increase, more people may be at a greater risk of kidney failure in the future.

This complex condition poses multiple challenges, and the Foundation is already assisting on these challenges through R.U.S.H.  Set up two years ago in collaboration with medical professionals, R.U.S.H. forms part of a holistic support system that we would like to see in place. At present, R.U.S.H. also provides external help to renal patients including free transport to evening treatment, free fitness sessions, free counselling advice, and more. 

For some time, the Foundation has been planning an additional concept, and these unprecedented times served as the final push to launch the concept of LifeWalk.  Depending on the pandemic situation, the challenge will be happening between Friday 30^th April and Wednesday 5^th May 2021. The concept is similar to LifeCycle but rather than on a bike, LifeWalk will be a long-distance walk over a shorter period of four days. 

LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry said: “As many of our donors know, the 2021 LifeCycle Challenge was already planned for Argentina and Chile, however for our Foundation, safety comes first: the Covid situation in those Latin American countries does not augur well. So, we decided that now is the right time to activate a novel sister event that had planned some time ago. In April 2021, we shall be walking from Bowness on Solway to Walls End. Everything is being organised for the participants: all they have to do is to register, train to build their stamina for a 100-mile walk and show up to walk under our LifeWalk banner ‘Walk With Us’.”

The Foundation’s Chairperson, Dr Shirley Cefai, said: “Though this is not as challenging as cycling an average of 180 kilometres a day as normally happens during the annual LifeCycle Challenge, in its own right this is not an easy challenge, yet we are sure that this exciting walkathlon will attract a good number of participants. Obesity, which leads to diabetes and hypertension, is the main precursor of renal failure, and therefore the Foundation believes such events also help to highlight the need for everyone to become and stay fit by adopting ‘Walk With Me’ as a personal slogan.”

On the other hand, Nestlé’s Category Business Manager and Corporate Communications Manager Charlene Ellul, said:  “We are confirming our support for LifeWalk.  Like the LifeCycle Challenge, this is also perfectly in line with Nestlé’s objective, as we inspire people to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  We understand the stark reality of social distancing, financial hiccups and restrictions, brought upon all of us this year.  Sponsoring the Nescafé LifeWalk Challenge, therefore, will demonstrate that we won’t be shackled by adversity and will continue to help and care for our community.  Our principles are built on values, namely respect, and this is what we strongly believe LifeCycle is doing in its endeavour: offering respect to patients and their families. For this reason, it was an easy choice for us to reassure our contribution to such a noble, nation-wide act.”

LifeCycle was launched in 1999 when four individuals cycled all the way from Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy to the small village of Haydon Bridge near Newcastle in Northern England, the home of founder Alan Curry. The aim was to raise both money and awareness for persons suffering from renal failure in Malta. After traveling to 50 countries between 1999 and 2019 and raising close to €3 million, this will be the first year the Foundation will not do a cycle ride owing to Covid-19 still affecting huge numbers in both Argentina and Chile where the team was meant to be visiting to cycle 2,000km in 10 days.

The Foundation’s plan is that R.U.S.H. is developed further to include disease and nutritional awareness, specialised lectures, fitness and walking activities, as well as targeting the determinants that cause kidney disease, which can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Over the coming years, these aspects will be integrated into a unique system that, as a voluntary organisation with finite resources, has been in their sight for a number of years. Through R.U.S.H., the increasing number of Maltese kidney patients and their families will be seeing and feeling an improvement in their quality of life notwithstanding their difficulties, while more people in Malta will become determined to start improving their health and wellness. 

Donations can be made via Revolut on +356 9932 9101 or through Paypal onhttps://buff.ly/35g17CC

More info is available from www.lifecyclefoundation.com, on facebook:  https://fb.me/e/bZhovsTyW, or by phone on 79903961 / 79887889.

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