How Emotional!

Tomorrow morning at 11 am at Palazzo Marino, there will be the press conference to present the second edition of the mini marathon for the disabled NEW FRONTIERS.
The Director of Sport for the City of Milan, Alan Rizzi and the Director of Sport for the Province, Cristina Stancari will be present, in addition to representatives of numerous associations for the disabled. An important presence is that of Giusy Versace, testimony of the event and bilaterally amputated athlete, that is still the 100 meters champion, who will be beside Fabio Pasinetti, with whom I crossed the White Desert of Egypt in 2008.
The Mayor if Milan, Letizia Moratti will be at the mini marathon Sunday, September 26 at 10:30 starting from Piazza Castello.
What can I say? Even the most optimistic expectations could not have predicted such success. Also this time, with a lot of work and dedication we have managed to create an event considered impossible. The numerous problems, for which we asked help and support, endangered the organization of an event which I have always believed in, that is completely dedicated to the disabled and helping them overcome their handicaps thanks to doing sport. The response exceeded all my expectations and tomorrow we will all meet together to give our testimony of a great initiative, dedicated to people with all types and levels of disabilities.
I want to express my great emotion, the joy and satisfaction of having been able to realize a dream considered impossible. A heartfelt thanks to whose who have worked so hard and believed in NEW FRONTIERS. Thanks to those who will be there and also to those who cannot, I’m sorry: you will miss an opportunity to share with us the emotions of an important and wonderful celebration of solidarity.

Many Surprises

The mini marathon “New Frontiers” has begun under the best expectations and everyday there are small surprises. The latest, very recently, was the confirmation that the Mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti will be at the start, Sunday 26 in Piazza Castello. At the press conference September 22 at Palazzo Marino, the Director of Health for the city and for the region, Alex Rizzi and Cristina Stancari, will attend in addition to representatives of many groups for the disabled. Spreading the voice is working and every day we receive new support for the initiative. There are also numerous participants that are coming from the center of Italy to show their support: I remind everyone that all the funds raised will be given to help disabled participating in athletics. We are not lacking in volunteers either, who everyday offer to help us make the event possible, in the best it can be, guaranteeing safety for everyone. NEW FRONTIERS is becoming a great race of solidarity and is demonstrating that every barrier, also the most resistant, can be overcome thanks to the love towards those who are in need of help. There is still a lot of work to do, but no one is turning back: enthusiasm, generosity and great sensibility accompany our everyday journey and let us meet new friends and sponsors who like us share these feelings: for a hopeful future towards NEW FRONTIERS.

A nice thought

After responding to Yanni’s letter, the athlete who successfully crossed the Salar de Uyuni on foot, I went to see the website he gave me:
http://www.salar.artictoamazon.com/
which speaks of his expeditions. And what did I read? The complete story of the strange coincidences that made us meet two times! The tone of his words were rich with enthusiasm and also he was struck by the coincidences that brought our paths together. I gathered that at his departure, for the tension of the event, he forgot to take a photo together with me and that this thought had tormented him throughout his trip. When we saw each other again in La Paz, he realized that his desire could finally be met and he wrote that he was particularly touched by me saying: “Yanni, you still have the Salar in your eyes.” At the moment he thought I was referring to the great quantity of salt that he absorbed during the journey, but then he understood the true sense of my words and was touched. I am sure that the Salar will remain in his eyes for a long time, dear companion of adventure: sights like that are not easy to forget.

WHAT A SURPRISE!!

Destiny is strange: sometimes incredible things happen that we can’t explain. This is how it happened during the last Desert Therapy in Bolivia. When we arrived at the Salar de Uyuni, we found out that there was a man leaving to cross the desert on foot in solitary, attached to a small cart loaded with water, food and materials: exactly as I did in ’94. Yanni, this is his name, is originally from France and now lives in London. He knows me and says that he was inspired by my challenges to make his crossing, going and returning for a total of 360 kilometers. Also for him it was a nice surprise to meet me on the boarder of the Salar, the place where also I started my crossing, and emotionally I saw his preparation to start, in awe of the great desert of salt.
But the surprise doesn’t end here. At the end of our trip, when entered into the hotel in La Paz, we found ourselves in front of Yanni, who had just completed his successful crossing. Despite being endowed with a strong body and well trained, he was tired, but very happy. He took 9 days to cross the Salar and in his eyes he still had the expression of someone who had lived an exceptional experience. We looked at each other in a long silence, each knowing the thoughts of the other, then he said: it was a great challenge, not only physical, but also mental, I experienced something great, you can understand me. Then he hugged me.
In the morning, slid under the door of the room, I found a letter that said. “you are truly a special woman, thank you for giving me the motivation to face this challenge.” Thank you, great man and thank you Salar de Uyuni for the splendid gift you have given me: destiny is truly unpredictable.

Great Trip!

It is difficult to find words to describe the journey of Desert Therapy in Bolivia, it will be the participants themselves to express their impression shortly on the site. We can only say that the expectations were highly exceeded by the reality. In only a few days we experienced so many emotions we were all surprised. From the marvellous camp on the Salar de Uyuni, a unique experience, with yoga sessions by Lauren, to the lagoons with incredible colors. From the highlands surrounded by the snow-covered peaks of the Cordillera Real, to the incredible drop into the still active mines of Potosì. From the visit to an Incan cemetery at night, to Titicaca lake and the ruins of Tiwanacu. Every moment of our journey brought new ad spectacular scenery that only nature can offer. It was undoubtedly a challenging journey, we were always at altitudes between 3,500 and 4,500 meters, but the climate was favourable to us and we did not suffer the cold we were expecting. And the sun with the sky always clear and the full moon in the evenings made the unique landscape even more evocative.

The problems regarding the road blocks were solved and transportation with SUVs was not a problem, though it almost made us call off the trip. The group always proved to be able to face each situation and even some discomfort due to the high altitude was faced with great serenity.

The staff of Desert Therapy manage with great dedication and professionalism every situation and the maximum comfort was provided where possible.

We left with a promise: to meet together again soon for another trip. We are already working on new itineraries: other deserts are waiting.

Eve...of tension

Only a few hours till our departure for Bolivia, but for the first time the night before truly made us suffer. The situation is that for 10 days in the Latino country there has been a block of the streets to access Potasi, the region where the Salar de Uyuni is located, ended in the past few hours and the news reported by Farnesina and local papers were not encouraging. With this situation, yesterday evening during a meeting with all the participants, held at the last minute, we decided to postpone the departure by a few days in order to see if the issue would be resolved. The priority of Desert Therapy, which is mandatory, is safety and therefore if we had not been assured that everything was back to normal, even it would cost us a lot, we would abandon the trip. The disappointment could be seen in everyone’s eyes, however, common sense and the strong connection between the group prevailed and we left with a toast and an agreement with Daniele, who is in constant contact with the Italian Embassy and the Bolivian correspondent, to keep an eye on the situation. This morning the news came: an agreement was finally reached and the roads were reopened: we can go! Within minutes everyone was notified and shortly we will all meet in the airport, including the participant from Rome, who we had stopped at the last minute. Thanks to the good spirit and a little luck Desert Thearpy can go forward. Serenity, mutual trust and professionalism, coupled with a great sense of friendship that unites us, proved that difficult situations can be faced and resolved. A heart-felt thanks to all our friends who will travel with us: you are truly wonderful and have demonstrated your readiness to face together this journey of Desert Therapy: special….like you all!

Always higher!

It is true: Desert Therapy knows no limit and this time will go to the top of its story. On the 17th of August we will leave for Bolivia, where in 1994 I crossed on foot, in solitude, the mythic Salar de Uyuni, which had never before been crossed in solitude. With us there will be nine friends, most of whom have travelled with us to Egypt and Corsica. Desert Therapy proposes to retrace the same deserts which were the protagonists of my challenges, and the Salar de Uyuni is the second in order. The emotions of finding myself again in the presence of this most fascinating and incredible place are great, and to share these feeling with the closest friends of Desert Therapy will be wonderful. For two weeks we will travel through the high plane of the Andes and the unreal colored lagoons. We will have the privilege to walk and sleep on the salt lake, thanks to the permits that exceptionally we were able to obtain. Everyday will be a new adventure, rich with emotion and breath-taking scenery, to pass in happiness and serenity: in the usual and proven style of Desert Therapy.