Sunday, 2nd August 2009
The Lifecycle Voyage begins……
The Betfair Lifecycle Challenge voyage began on July 21 from Pembroke. Committee, backup team members and cyclists joined in to load the container with the foodstuff, medical supplies, bicycles, personal luggage and equipment required to sustain the whole family during the upcoming challenge. As one expected - a hive of activity ensued and a nerve testing period for me and fellow committee members and administrator followed until all the documents were processed and the container finally left to be loaded onto the container ship for shipment to Istanbul.
The container arrived in mid afternoon and at 5 p.m. we started loading it. Theresa was keeping a note of all the items for customs purposes whilst the female members were in the container to stack the goods as the male members formed a human chain to get the goods into the container. Cyclists Jes and Maria went to collect fruit juice boxes donated by a last minute sponsor. In the meantime other Cyclists and backup team members continued to arrive with their luggage to send with the container.
By 8 p.m., the container was packed and sealed........but the following days were a headache. Unfortunately, a lot of paperwork needed to be completed including a bank guarantee. Whilst I was liaising with the shipping agent and the Chamber of Commerce to get the CARNET document, Liz and Mario were frantically collecting new data required, processing and collecting the bank guarantee and carnet and delivering to the agent in time for them to process all the documentation to enable the container to be taken to the Malta Freeport for shipment.
The Lifecycle challenge is not easy as many armchair critics make it to be. One has to be in it to understand and appreciate the logistics and sacrifices behind it.
Donations can be made through landlines on 5004 9065 - €10, 5004 9060 - €20 and by SMS on 5061 9229 - €11.65. Lifecycle Organisation thanks you in advance for your generosity.
Video: Ray Pace
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