![\"Simon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8752cbbb1a214207108d5773d69f9f95f0e66dd6-1757158831-5a30cc96-1920x1280.jpg\" "\\"Simon")
Simon Camilleri completed the LifeCycle challenge 15 years ago.\nPreparing for the uphill journey<\/p>\n
When Simon Camilleri cycled from Turkey to Syria in aid of the Life Cycle Foundation, little did he know that 15 years later, he would be a beneficiary of the cause himself.<\/p>\n
He had contributed to the NGO that raises funds and awareness through endurance cycling events for renal patients, and is today one of them, requiring regular dialysis to filter and clean his blood at Mater Dei Hospital\u2019s Renal Unit.<\/p>\n
Now, his son William has picked up the baton and is participating in this year\u2019s cycle from Jordan to Jeddah in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His father\u2019s experience will motivate him as he takes on the 10-day test of cycling 200km a day, roughly the equivalent of riding around Malta and Gozo each day.<\/p>\n
A long-standing type 1 diabetic, Simon was recently diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy \u2013 a condition that results in end-stage kidney disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From this year, his blood must be passed through a dialysis machine that does the kidney\u2019s work, and he appreciates the \u201cgreat support\u201d received from the Renal Unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was definitely the main reason why I took on this challenge,\u201d said his son, an interventional cardiologist.<\/p>\n
It will be William\u2019s first Life Cycle expedition and it was not even on his agenda, until he got a call from a good friend who told him about the cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 20 minutes, I said I would join \u2013 it was a no-brainer,\u201d William said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a doctor myself and speaking to renal physicians on a daily basis, I know how tough the condition is and how much demand there is for dialysis, with never enough slots to cope.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018My forever role model\u2019<\/p>\n
At 61, Simon Camilleri\u2019s personal test is now to live as close to normal as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI take my treatment as simply another Life Cycle of its own, with the same purpose and vigour. Each day is a lap and a small victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cTenacity is the name of the game,\u201d said the man who has a number of adventures under his belt, including five Rolex Middle Sea Races, summiting Kilimanjaro and running an organisation with over 500 people globally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to know my dad\u2019s lifestyle to understand what a change this has been for him,\u201d said his son. \u201cAs you can imagine, he did not take it very well initially, but who would?\u201d<\/p>\n
But Simon has adapted \u201cextremely well\u201d to the situation and the wheels of his life have kept turning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While he has cut down significantly on his business travels, that just means he spends more time at home with his family, William said, describing him as \u201ca true inspiration to me and my forever role model\u201d.<\/p>\n
His father had never considered taking on the challenge again, so being unable to participate was not an issue. But he was pleased to see his son filling in his shoes and is pushing him every day to make sure he completes it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two talk a lot about his Life Cycle experience and the mistakes he made. \u00a0He has told his son: \u201cDo not stop pedalling!\u201d<\/p>\n
The main take-home point, though, was not to see the mission as a mountain that must be climbed, but rather, to break it down into small chunks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing he has told me is to enjoy the experience,\u201d William said.<\/p>\n
Simon Camilleri completed the LifeCycle challenge 15 years ago.
\nPreparing for the uphill journey<\/p>\n
William recalls going on long bike rides with his dad around Mellie\u0127a, always trying to catch up with him on the hills.<\/p>\n
Things have changed somewhat since, and it is now his turn to rise and shine at 5am every day to do around two hours of indoor cycling four times a week and one strength session in the gym.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sundays are dedicated to a long ride of between 80km to 120km \u2013 around five hours on the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The foundation\u2019s yearly international endurance event pits a dedicated team of cyclists against the elements in a long-distance ride through different countries. \u00a0This year, William is one of 20 cyclists, including seven doctors, embarking on the \u2018Rose to Red\u2019 ride, cycling from the rose-red city of Petra to the Red Sea coast in Jeddah.<\/p>\n
He is looking forward to \u201cmaking memories\u201d with his friends and visiting new countries. \u201cWe are a great bunch of people, and I am sure we will come back with some great stories,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the vicinity of Jordan to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is his biggest concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Helping patients in more ways than one<\/p>\n
As a doctor, William is already focused on improving patients\u2019 lives from a medical point of view. But now he is getting involved in the fundraising aspect too.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a person who helps people with heart disease, I feel it is always beneficial to help patients in more ways than one,\u201d said the interventional cardiologist.<\/p>\n
Renal failure patients needed moral support, Camilleri said. \u201cThe idea of having to do dialysis multiple times a week can be daunting for them, and they see this like a mountain they will never summit,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Life Cycle was set up in 1999, it has raised almost \u20ac4 million for renal patients, who require constant care, extensive medical treatment and boundless research.<\/p>\n
Quoting Life Cyle founder Alan Curry, Camilleri said the equipment bought over the years had made a difference but described the situation as a \u201cbottomless pit\u201d in that treatment needs are constant, from daily consumables to machines and couches required for dialysis.<\/p>\n
![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/7d8169b22ad478a4684fb0895a9173ac89c6b985-1757158902-49ca414a-1920x1280.jpg\" "\\"William")
William Camilleri will be one of 20 participants in this year\u2019s \u2018Rose to Red\u2019 LifeCycle challenge.<\/p>\n
Malta\u2019s 364 patients spend around 12 hours on dialysis a week, at a weekly cost of \u20ac1,000. One in 10 people in Malta are affected by some sort of kidney disorder.<\/p>\n
As a doctor, William believes such charity initiatives to help hospitals and the state deal with illnesses in the best way are \u201csuper important\u201d.<\/p>\n
The national health service budget is not indefinite, he noted, and foundations like this helped fill the gap caused by financial constraints.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the hospital\u2019s cardiac division, we have our own charities that have helped fund vital equipment for the care of heart patients. We cannot thank them enough for their support and, hopefully, they will continue going for a long time so patients can continue to benefit from the fruit of their labour\u201d.<\/p>\n