GO has teamed up with LifeCycle organisers once again and has pledged its full support as a platinum sponsor to the Betfair LifeCycle Challenge 2012. This year’s challenge will see a total of 40 participating cyclists hit the road in the coming days to cover the gruelling 1900km journey from Brisbane to Melbourne, Australia in just 11 days.

Betfair LifeCycle Challenge is one of the toughest modern-day endurance events. The main contributing factor to its success is the sheer determination and commitment of the cyclists and their support team. LifeCycle Organisation has three main aims namely to create awareness to the stark reality of renal disease, to collect funds for the purchase of cutting-edge equipment necessary to upgrade the Renal Unit at Mater Dei and enhance the quality of life for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease by allowing them access to the highest and most sophisticated levels of healthcare.

Speaking about the Betfair LifeCycle Challenge 2012, Michelle Bonnici, Chief Human Resources Officer at GO said, “We are pleased to be joining forces with the LifeCycle Organisation once again and are proud to have supported this worthy cause and its ongoing achievements throughout the 14 years of its existence.”

“We have no doubt that the whole team made up of cyclists and the support team will do Malta proud yet again this year. After long months of gritty training, when the time comes in a few weeks, Betfair LifeCycle Challenge cyclists will be fully geared to face the gruelling challenge down under.”

“Sponsoring humane initiatives with a strong social implication – such as the LifeCycle Organisation cause – underpins GO’s corporate social responsibility and further reflects its strong social conscience. GO takes the opportunity to wish the best of luck to all the team involved in the Betfair LifeCycle Challenge 2012,” she said.

One of the cyclists, who has signed on to the challenge this year and committed himself to take part in the 11-day venture, is in fact a GO employee – Marcel Saliba. A dedicated volunteer, Marcel Saliba has been an active participant for six of the challenges and this year will be his seventh Challenge. Since his first participation in 2003, he has always strived to raise awareness to the devastating effect of renal disease without ever looking back and GO have always supported him in doing this.

“We have high hopes of topping the total amount raised in funds last year to help meet the cost of treatment, life-saving equipment as well as research to support patients on dialysis,” he said. Marcel took the opportunity of thanking GO for its continued support over the years and said that the success of LifeCycle largely depends on the generosity of caring companies like GO and hefty donations from the public. The foundation collected over €1 million since the first edition of the challenge 14 years ago.

Photo – Marcel Saliba, participant in the LifeCycle Challenge 2012 during one of the cyclists training sessions.

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