Fear of Flying

You can’t remain indifferent when facing the news that 228 people lost the lives on board of an airplane in flight from Rio De Janeiro to Paris. The images, the torture of the familiar, the daily news puts in front of us this great tragedy of the sky. This time, unlike for other tragedies, we live with not knowing the mystery that caused a very reliable aircraft like the Airbus 330 to sink into the Atlantic Ocean. And on all of the newspapers talk about fear of flying. My point of view is different: I would call it appointment with destiny, for some sign of the irrevocable last word, for others, like the two passengers that remained on land because one of their passports had expired, another chance at life. I do not want to enter in the figures which show that the air transportation is the most secure from the statistical point of view; I want instead to reflect; so how I am doing myself same in these sad days, together with you who read. More than a fear of flying, it is necessary to talk about fear of wasting real life pursuing a reality that does not belong to us and that instead take what comes to us daily as a model to imitate. I ask myself what I would do if I were one of these two “miraculously saved” passengers. Most likely nothing. I would not change my life that is already so full that will remain so. I think, without faking modesty, I am on the right track; a road once again traced from the desert, a road that I have traveled alone and that I wanted to retrace together with others on the first edition of Desert Therapy. A road that I want to cross again many more times as long as there will be people that want to share in these emotion with me. I am not afraid to fly, because I have still so much desire to live.

Here I am

Dear friends, I did not run away, I just disappeared for a brief pause after months of frantic activity!
Here I am ready to work, with lots of energy and desire to do many wonderful things, again together.
The task is to give life to the second edition of New Frontiers, the mini marathon for the disabled in Milan, that could also be taken to other places.
And then there is Desert Therapy, that continues to be a major success: the requests are numerous and we are already constructing the group whish will depart October 23.
June 12 we all have a date to see each other in Trecate: on the site you can find out the place and time for the meeting, don’t miss it!

Sponsors and the Desert

I spent four wonderful days in Sardegna participating in a conference for one of our sponsors La Roche Posey. The results were more than positive. They gave me the possibility to speak about the desert, my experiences, the fatigue, the thirst, the fear and the joys. I was able to see many time in front of me, interest, surprise, a little disbelief, but never boredom. We talked about Desert Therapy and I was able to notice once again, how successful this initiative can be and the approval of everyone. There was a lot of curiosity and many questions. And above all a great desire to participate. And this is what encourages me the most to keep going forward everyday, because seeing the response of others lets me understand this is right.

HAPPINESS

New Frontiers is finally born! We are happy to have finally given life to the first mini marathon for the disabled in Milan, something I greatly desired to do and for which I worked very hard even up to the last minute. We worked without a break, with the collaboration of everyone who believed in this project and demonstrated their support and help the disabled. We are far from the large numbers who attend the Stramilano, but we are trying and moving forward. The great joy and happiness created in the first edition of New Frontiers let me see that the objective was reached. It was a celebration, we crossed the streets in the city center with numerous disabled athletes who were singing, getting the attention the Milan people and of others, on the course where we went from the Arena to the Duomo and back. Even the urban police escorted us with bright eyes, announcing to everyone at the event that Director Landi has committed to repeat and suitably upgrade for the next edition in 2010. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who came together, to participate and for believing in this wonderful show of solidarity.

Ready to GO!

Today is the appointment for all at the Arena for New Frontiers, the first mini marathon for the disabled. The event will be at 3pm, to walk all together for solidarity. The weather is good, and it will be a day of celebration and happy memories. It is also Mother’s Day: another reason to come together and participate in something that helps those less fortunate. We will see you in a few hours!! And a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the mothers.

A Big Responsibility

Yesterday at Plazzo Marino the room was full for the press conference to present the mini marathon NEW FRONTIER. Director Landi expressed his hopes for a big turn out at the event in order to have another next year. The difficulty now is to get a lot of people to come to the Arena Sunday May 10 at 3pm to walk together in the city center. The director will also walk with Fabio and me to sensitize the public opinion to the conditions for disabled persons and to contribute to helping disabled youth participate in sports. To dedicate two hours to others is a small request that can do a lot of good. We are awaiting a lot of people to spend the afternoon together to celebrate and to guarantee a future of NEW FRONTIERS. (photo Colombo/Omega)

Press Conference

Today, May 5 at 11am in Palazzo Marino in Milan, there will be the press conference to present New Frontier, the first minimarathon for the disabled organized with the Director of Health from the Comune of Milan.
With Fabio and I, together with the director of Health Landi di Chiavenna, there will be many leaders and representatives of associations for the disabled. We invite everyone to give as much as they can as all of the proceeds go to benefit young disabled athletes who are participating in sports. The event will be Sunday, May 10 at 3pm at the Arena of Milan: we are waiting for all of you, it will be an afternoon of celebration to walk together for solidarity.