A team from the Emergency Fire and Rescue Unit (EFRU)  leaves for Sicily on Friday May 7 to  undertake a 300 kilometre two-day cycling challenge in aid of The Hospice Movement.  A 20-strong team of cyclists in the Cycling for Charity Tour will ride through some of the picturesque Sicilian countryside this neighbouring island has to offer, to raise money that will help.

Hospice maintain its support to cancer patients and their families. Set up in 2006, the Emergency Fire and Rescue unit is manned by unpaid volunteers who assist local authorities in case of a national emergency.  Its members train regularly in various disciplines, including rescue and fire fighting.

Julian J. Mamo, Director at GasanMamo Insurance, sponsors of the event, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Company towards voluntary organisations like the Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit.  “We are proud to see so many young Maltese men and women give up their time and energies to help others.  We hope GasanMamo’s contribution will also serve as additional motivation and some moral support.”

The Cycling for Charity Tour is set to start on Friday from Pozzallo via Modena, Ragusa, Francofonte to Lentini. At Lentini the cyclists and the back-up team will then make their way to Il Giardino del Sole Residence. The tour will continue from Lentini via Sigonella, Paterno, Nicolosi, Etna Sud to Catania on Saturday 8th.

Cyclists will be clocking an average speed of 16 to 20km per hour over the 300km distance. The organisers are hopeful they will cover the total distance for the first day of the tour by 5pm. This will give them time for a spuntino and leave sufficient time for rest. Starting time the following day is at 7.00 am with a quick breakfast so that they can continue the venture by 9am.  The route was planned by EFRU with the help of professional navigator Audrick Plum.

Tim mill-Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit (EFRU) se jitilqu lejn Sqallija l-Gimgħa 7 ta’ Mejju għal sfida bir-roti ta’ 300 kilometru f’jumejn b’risq il-Hospice Movement.  Tim ta’ 20 ċiklista fis-Cycling for Charity Tour se jaqdfu mill-pajżaġġ pittoresk ta’ Sqallija li din il-gżira ġara għandha x’toffri, biex jiġbru l-fondi li se jgħinu lill-Hospice ikomplu jestendu l-appoġġ lill-pazjenti tal-kanċer u lill-familji tagħhom.

Imwaqqfa fl-2006, l-Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit hi mħaddma minn voluntiera li bla ħlas jassistu lill-awtoritajiet lokali f’każi ta’ emerġenza nazzjonali.  Il-membri jitħarrġu b’mod regolari f’diversi dixxiplini, inkluż is-salvataġġ u t-tifi tan-nar.

Julian J. Mamo, Direttur ta’ GasanMamo Insurance, l-isponsors tal-avveniment, wera l-gratitudni tiegħu f’isem il-kumpanija, lejn organizzazzjonijiet volontarji bħall-Emergeny Fire & Rescue Unit.  “Aħna kburin b’ħafna zgħazagħ Maltin li jagħtu l-ħin u l-enerġija biex jgħinu lill-ħaddieħor.  Nisperaw li l-kontribut ta’ GasanMamo jservi ta’ motivazzjoni u ta’ appoġġ morali.”

Is-Cycling for Charity Tour jibda l-Ġimgħa minn Pozzallo u jgħaddi minn Modena, Ragusa, Francofonte sa Lentini.  F’Lentini ċ-ċiklisti u t-tim ta’ appoġġ jitilqgħu lejn ir-residenza Il Giardino del Sole.  It-tour ikompli minn Lentini u jgħaddi minn Sigonella, Paterno, Nicolosi, Etna Sud sa Catania fid-8 ta’ Mejju.

Iċ-ċiklisti se jkunu għaddejjin  b’veloċità ta’ 16  sa 20 km fis-siegħa fuq distanza ta’ 300km.  L-organizzaturi jisperaw li jkopru d-distanza kollha għall-ewwel ġurnata sal-5pm.  Dan jagħtihom ħin biżżejjed għal spuntino u l-mistrieħ.  L-għada l-ġurnata tibda fis-7am b’kolazzjon  ta’ malajr biex ikunu jistgħu jkomplu l-avventura fid-9am.  Ir-rotta kienet ppjanata mill-EFRU bl-għajnuna tan-navigatur professjonist Audrick Plum.

L-ispejjeż kollha għall-isfida Cycling for Charity se jħallashom GasanMamo Insurance.  Għalhekk id-donazzjonijiet tal-pubbliku bl-SMS imorru direttament għand il-Hospice Movement.  Dawk li jixtiequ jagħmlu donazzjoni jistgħu jibagħtu SMS fuq 50618089 għal donazzjoni ta’ €4.66 jew 50619244 għal donazzjoni ta’ €11.65.