Eight volunteer members of the Emergency Fire and Rescue Unit (EFRU) will be putting their routine training to charitable use when they cycle 128 kilometres in Sicily in aid of the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Foundation.

"Our motto is Take Pride In Helping Others and there is no better way to do so than by helping other philanthropic organisations such as Puttinu Cares," EFRU director Ivan Barbara said as he explained that the unit was a voluntary organisation entirely manned by volunteers to provide emergency assistance to local authorities. "Cycling is one of the routine cardiovascular training EFRU members do. So we thought: Why not use it to help people?"

The unit's senior operations manager, Sandro Camilleri, explained that, on May 2, eight EFRU members will set off to Pozzallo, Sicily, at 5 a.m. where they will cycle to Syracuse. After an hour's break they will cycle back to Pozzallo in time to catch the 8 p.m. catamaran to Malta.

The cyclists, who would have covered 128 kilometres, will be backed up with a logistics team including medical assistance.

The eight cyclists - seven men and a woman - are: Antonia Schembri, Bernard Camilleri, Natalino De Brincat, David Calleja, Martin Micallef, Nick Zammit, Joseph Smith La Rosa and Keith Borg.

Mr Camilleri said this was the first time such a cycling tour was being organised by EFRU and they planned to make it an annual event.

Puttinu activities coordinator Rennie Zerafa explained that the foundation was in the final stages of purchasing three apartments in London - to host families who travelled to England for their child to be treated for cancer. The apartments, that would host six families, would cost about €1.2 million (Lm500,000). These would ensure that the families would have their mind at rest that accommodation was sorted during such a hard time.

"With the help of organisations like EFRU we are making this dream come true," Mr Zerafa said, adding that, each year, about 30 families travelled to London to treat their children for cancer.

Anyone who wishes to help EFRU help Puttinu Cares can send an SMS on 5061 7375 to donate €3 and on 5061 8079 to donate €5. Lines are open until the end of May. Anyone interested in making larger donations or obtaining more information can contact Mr Barbara on 7949 0717; Mr Camilleri on 9949 7272; Keith Borg on 7949 9433 or Natalino De Brincat on 9944 8817.

www.efru.net