The LifeCycle Malta Foundation recently sponsored a trip to Lourdes for a group of patients dealing with chronic kidney disease who joined the pilgrimage that is organised every year from Malta by the Assoċjazzjoni Volontarji Lourdes. The trip for renal patients was facilitated with the help of the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.

Recognizing the spiritual and emotional benefits that the pilgrimage can offer, the Foundation, which is Malta’s only non-profit organisation dedicated solely to improving the health and well-being of kidney disease sufferers and raising awareness on renal health, has been sponsoring this annual trip since 2000 to provide hope and a much-needed break to renal patients. Participants, accompanied by medical staff and volunteers, took part in the uplifting spiritual journey, as they visited the Grotto of Massabielle and joined pilgrims from all over the world in prayer services, among other activities.
The annual pilgrimage to Lourdes also provides a unique opportunity for kidney patients, offering them the rare chance to travel overseas, a feat often complicated by the need for regular dialysis. The LifeCycle Malta Foundation and the Mater Dei Hospital Renal Unit make sure that these trips are tailored to ensure that all medical needs are met, including access to dialysis services at local facilities near Lourdes.
The Chairman of LifeCycle Malta Foundation, Alan Curry, commented: “As a Foundation, our holistic approach to care has always prioritised the well-being of our patients, including offering them experiences that for them would typically be out of reach. From the very beginning, we have organised this trip to ensure it is fully inclusive and accessible, despite the challenging logistics involved. The intricate medical arrangements required for such a journey starkly remind us of how kidney disease dominates lives, altering them profoundly. Kidney patients do not get a break from their treatment routines, but this trip represents a precious opportunity that uplifts their spirits and nurtures their resilience.”
Since its inception in 1999, the LifeCycle Malta Foundation has raised nearly €4 million, mainly through the LifeCycle Challenge and LifeWalk. The 2024 challenge, themed “Journey of Good Hope,” will see 16 participants cycle 2,000 kilometres from Botswana to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa over a ten-day period, with the cyclists and back up team departing Malta on 25 October.

The 2024 LifeCycle Challenge is supported by the main sponsor Nescafé and other sponsors amongst whom are Smart Technologies Ltd, APS Bank, Laferla Insurance, The Web Ally, Agora and JPA.
Donations to the LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation can be made via Revolut on 9932 9101, by PayPal on this link: https://buff.ly/35g17CC

and via SMS:

5061 7370 for €2.33

5061 8920 for €6.99

5061 9229 for €11.65

or via a call to

5160 2020 for €10

5170 2005 for €15

5180 2006 for €25. 

Donations can be made also via bank transfers via Swift code VALLMTMT, IBAN MT 18 VALL 22013000000014814521017, with the Bank name being Bank of Valletta, and account number 14814521017.
The LifeCycle Foundation is registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations – VO/0529
For more information, one can visit https://lifecyclefoundation.com or https://www.facebook.com/LifeCycleChallenge