Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1041944
19 COMMERCIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 OCTOBER 2018 THE 27-strong team of cyclists and back-up support team members of the 2018 Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge have returned to Malta safely today. Considered as the big- gest and toughest challenge in the series since its inception in 1999, this year's challenge took the cyclists from Abu Dhabi to Salalah in Southern Oman. Powered by Foster Clark which donated €25,000 for research on kidney defects at the University of Malta, and led by the cool- headed founder Alan Curry, the LifeCycle Challenge has been held every year for the past 19 years in aid of renal patients. A 10-day continuous ride, at times the route was longer than 200km a day, the cyclists rode mostly on desert roads, across mountainous regions with many undulations and hills, and no doubt in scorching heat. Each day, they were quite exhausted but their courage, dedication and knowing they are helping a noble cause has kept them all focused to reach the finishing line. "Finishing the biggest Chal- lenge was a memorable day for us. We had some injuries along the route, five riders had to with- draw, while 16 riders completed the challenge," said Alan Curry. "LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation will continue to work hard to generate further awareness on kidney failure and better care for renal patients, and to sustain kid- ney research. We thank our title sponsor Foster Clark, our other sponsors, our cyclists and back- up team who worked so hard on this challenge. Our hearts go out to those patients suffering from renal disease and families." "We welcome back the heroes of Foster Clark LifeCycle Chal- lenge," said John Schembri, Fos- ter Clark's Head of Operations. "The LifeCycle Challenge and Foster Clark share the same mindset and values. We couldn't be prouder to support Alan Cur- ry and his team in their noble cause for the second consecutive year." Where will the Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge 2019 take us? Keep following our Facebook page and website: www.lifecyc- lechallenge.com for updates. Donations can be made on- line on www.lifecyclechallenge. com or can be sent via sms: 5061 7370 = €2.33; 5061 8920 = €6.99; 5061 9229 = €11.65; or via a call to 5160 2020 = €10, 5170 2005 = €15; and 5180 2006 = €25. Bank details are Swift code VALLMT- MT, IBAN number MT 18 VALL 22 013 0 0 0 0 0 0 014814521017, Bank name Bank of Valletta, Ac- count number 14814521017. LifeCycle Challenge is also supported by StartUp Malta, LaFerla, NexiaBT, BPC, Positive VibrationsTattoo Studio Malta, Hilltop Gardens, SR Technics, St Michael School and St Michael Foundation, Tri-Mer Services Ltd, The Alfred Mizzi Founda- tion, GIG, P Cutajar, Tier1FX, Premier Capital, LeoVegas Mo- bile Gaming Group, Air Malta, API Technologies Corp., Attard Brothers Group of Companies, APS Bank, Corinthia Group of Companies, M.Demajo Group, de Rohan, Medelec, OilTank- ing, KBC Euro, Salini Resort, Flobour Malta, Bioness, Collis Williams, Credorax, Dorado Games, EF Management Con- sultants, EY, Gollcher, GTG Advocates, J. Lautier, Crimson- wing, M.A.&A., MIDI, Maypole, Omni Freight Services, P2M, RS2, Prime, Satariano, Striped Sox, Bathroom Design, Debono Group, PM Hobby DIY Home Solutions, Pemix Distributors Ltd, The Gift Lane,1st Cospicua Scout Group, Carmelo Delia, Streetcom, Vodafone Malta Foundation, EFQ Management Consultants, and Techwood In- ternational. MSC Cruises and Fincantieri have announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion. The ships, the first of which will be delivered in spring 2023, will have gross tonnage of ap- proximately 64,000 GT and will feature 500 cabins. The remain- ing three ships will come into service one per year over the fol- lowing three years. The ships will feature, amongst other, the best and latest envi- ronmental technology and other cutting-edge maritime solutions at sea. They will also showcase highly-innovative design as well as introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises' Executive Chairman, said: "It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within- a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natu- ral evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest ser- vices will be taken to another level, including our personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7." Vago continued, "I am espe- cially pleased to be able to fur- ther extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will es- tablish a new standard of ultra- luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and high- est standards that are associated with Made in Italy." Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fin- cantieri, stated: "It is with pride that two great brands – an Ital- ian one and one with a strong Italian DNA – well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction pro- gram. We are extremely satis- fied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognized that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge both in terms of safety and technologi- cal content, and with particular attention paid to passenger com- fort. With this project Fincantie- ri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its po- sition as absolute market leader". Angelo Capurro, MSC Cruis- es' Executive Director for Malta said: "Entering into the ultra-luxury segment, is yet another exciting development in our offering. In addition to our MSC Yacht Club experience, Maltese guests will enjoy from 2023 onwards an even wider choice of five-star cruise experiences in the high- est segment of the market. Our future ultra-luxury ships will come as close as it comes to a private yacht experience". Hamilton Travel Co. Ltd. of 4, St Publius Street, Floriana are the exclusive General Sales Agents for MSC in the Maltese Islands. For further information, please call on 21241292 or www. hamiltontravel.com.mt The first of this highly-innovative new generation of ships will come into service in spring 2023 MSC Cruises enters ultra-luxury segment by placing order for four more ships from fincantieri Another extreme Foster Clark LifeCycle Challenge completed successfully