In July the second edition of the Malta Airport – ALIVE2014 Cycling Challenge for Cancer will take 45 cyclists from Malta, including 12 female participants, across five European cities: from Prague to Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest and finally to Belgrade. A total of over 1,000km will be covered in just seven days. The funds raised from this challenge will go towards the Research Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta, to be utilised in breast cancer research projects in order to ensure improvement in survival rates of breast cancer patients in Malta.
The initiative, sponsored for the second consecutive year by Malta International Airport, was announced today by Nicky Camilleri, Chairperson of ALIVE Charity Foundation in collaboration with Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), a lobby group of breast cancer survivors, patients and well wishers, and Europa Donna Malta set up to increase awareness about breast cancer and breast health in Malta and to support people affected by the disease.
Hearing of a cancer case every week has made this disease a big reality for Mrs Michelle Muscat, spouse of the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Marigold Foundation. “Whether it is a family member, a family friend or someone I don’t know, the pain, fright and heart ache are all there. It is for this purpose that I believe we should encourage our own students to research and see what’s happening around us and perhaps find ways which will help us fight and win over this disease. The Alive Charity Foundation is working hard to make this research possible and thus we should all unite to make it a reality,” she said.
Breast cancer survivor Ms Rimona Mifsud Cristiano said: “I had breast cancer 3 times over a period of 11 years. I am twice a survivor and at the moment also a patient. When the doctors say that you have cancer or that cancer is back you always touch the bottom and ask what’s next? How will I go through this? Until you realise that you only have two options: either you sit back and let things happen or get up and fight it and never give up. For the past 11 years, I always wanted to help others. Today I have the opportunity to support the ALIVE 2014 Cycling Challenge because like me they will never give up in raising funds to find a cure.”
ALIVE 2014 is supported by Impressions, Springbox Media, Go & Fun, Debenhams and Garmin, Servizi Malta, Express Group, KPMG and Falzon Group
Apart long hours of regular training, participants are raising funds through various events. The public may also help this year’s team either by making a donation, by signing up to one of the fundraising events or by supporting the cyclists’ participation on the road by logging on: www.alivecharity.com
Donors who wish to sponsor a particular participant for the challenge can either click on their picture, which can be found on the website in the section ‘The Challenge’, or by adding their name to the transaction description.The public can also send donations by SMS on 50617364 (€2.33); 5061 8081 (€4.66); 5061 8913 (€6.99); and 5061 9208 (€11.65), or via bank transfer: Account No – BOV 4002149804-6 Alive Charity Foundation – Bank’s Bic – VALLMTMT – IBAN- MT85 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4002 1498 046.
