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Mountains. Health. Children.
Last Update on: 27.09.2010
Scaling one's own mount everest- also in valle camonica - to overcome leukaemia and tumour diseases
The initiative "Scalare il proprio Everest anche in Valle Camonica" was launched in 2003 under the aegis of the haemato-oncological division of the Paediatric University Hospital Milano-Bicocca, Monza. Every year, a group of adolescents who are looking back on a difficult time of completed leukaemia treatment are invited to spend a very special week in Ponte di Legno, Italy, without their parents. During this time, they will be venturing into a high alpine region - driven by self-motivation - and symbolically climb their very own "Mount Everest".
On 10th July 2010, this year's mountain tour (5th-9th July) was presented at the city hall of Ponte di Legno by physicians, local organisers, passionate mountain guides and of course the adolescent childhood cancer survivors.
This time, the group also included two young adults, former childhood cancer patients, from Austria.
testimonial from a young participant
„It was an indescribable experience, not only because of the great fun we had but also because of the magnificent landscape and because I somehow learned to enjoy life during the tour...Upon my return from Ponte di Legno, my parents told me that I had changed significantly, that I became more "mature" during this week and also more independent, cooperative and happier. “
Testimonial from one of last year's participating childhood cancer survivors
The tour of the young alpinists
The
group of young alpinists - five former childhood cancer patients from
Italy and two survivors from Austria - were accompanied by six Italian
mountain guides, one paediatrician from the Paediatric Hospital Monza
and one employee from the Children's Cancer Research Insitute of
Vienna.
Monday, 5th July: taster day at Presena Glacier
After a short hike to the Presena Glacier and an inspection of the alpine equipment on the first day, a taster day so to speak, the tour started for good on Tuesday, 6th July.
Tuesdy, 6th July: First day of the tour with overnight stay at an altitude of 2,450 m
From the Passo del Tonale at an altitude of 1,883 m Höhe, the cable car brought us to the Passo Paradiso and the journey continued by chairlift - past Lago di Monticelli - to Capanna Presena (2,729 m). The makeshift and very convenient means of transportation unfortunately came to an end here. A long challenging route with beautiful vistas across the Presena Glacier led to the Passo del Maroccaro at an altitude of 2,975 m. The several hour descent led across numerous rock steps and finally ended at the Rifugio Cittá di Trento al Mandrone (2,450 m), where the day came to an end with everyone in a happy mood and singing Italian folk tunes..
The mountain hut "Cittá di Trento" is located in the vicinity of numerous beautiful alpine lakes and close to the face of the Adamello Glacier, one of the largest and most important glaciers in Italy. "Centro Payer", a glaciological research and observation centre, is also located close by the Refugio. The Mandrone Glacier region was one of the settings of the First World War (1915-1918). Trenches, ruins of barrack camps and a small soldier's cemetery bear witness to the past.
Wednesday, 7th July: 2nd day of the tour: scaling the Mandrone-Glacier in rope teams
The mountain hut "Ai Caduti dell`Adamello" (translated: mountain hut "in memory of the war victims of Adamello) at an altitude of 3,040 m
was today's destination. This day of the tour began with an ascent to
Lago d. Mandrone (2,403 m). The further route was lined with
impressive, dark green-blue glistening small mountain lakes, led uphill
across platy rock zones and - with the group divided into rope teams -
up to the Vedretta (firn) of the Mandrone Glacier.
Thursday, 8th July: 3rd day of the tour: energy, stamina and courage
Although the previous day was a very challenging one, this day truly exacted a great deal of energy and stamina from the group while they were crossing the drawn-out glacier field and plenty of courage for the climbing activities.
Two young Italian and Austrian alpinists and former childhood cancer patients each scaled the steep face of the glacier Cresta Croce (altitude 3,307 m),
accompanied by Davide, their mountain guide. A cannon weighing many
tons is still standing on this crest, a gun used during the First World
War.
The entire group was subsequently reunited in the drawn-out glacier basin. The path led them across the Passo Brizio at an altitude of 3,140 m to the Rifugio Garibaldi (2,548 m), a beautifully situated mountain hut on the base of the northern wall of the Adamello Glacier offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountain ranges.
The
children and adolescents conducted rappelling exercises from the dam of
the artificial lake Lago di Venerocolo in front of the Garibaldi
mountain hut: the kids just couldn't get enough of it and had great fun.
Friday, 9th July: 4th day of the tour: return to Ponte di Legno and visit of Marco Confortola
Finally we were able to head down to the valley, free of the heavy loads because our pack packs and climbing belts with karabiners we had to carry until now were transported down by cable car. We hiked through enchanting nature past Lago Benedetto and Lago d'Avio to Malga Caldea and finally back to Ponte di Legno.
In the evening, Italian extreme athlete and K2 conqueror Marco Confortale presented "L`Esperienza sul K2" and talked about his project amongst other things with which he is trying to inspire children and adolescents to try their hands at mountain climbing and provides them with adequate training and education.
Saturday, 10th July:: Montagna. Salute. Bambini
The initiative sponsored by paediatric oncologists - spearheaded by Prof. Giuseppe Masera, Prof. Andrea Biondi, Paediatric Univ. Hospital Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Prof. Fulvio Porta, president of the Italian Association for Paediatric Haemato-Oncology - and local organisations - among them Maria Teresa Bormetti, Dr. Ruggero Remondi and the coordinating mountain guide Andrea Faustinelli - was presented at the city hall of Ponte di Legno.
The young attendees
told the audience about their first impressions of the tour, supported
with impressive snapshots.
Because two fromer childhood cancer patients from Austria were invited to attend this year's Ponte di Legno mountain tour for the first time, this was the perfect venue to present the EC funded project DIRECT: "Overcoming Cancer with Research" along with its integrated Survivors' Grossglockner tour 2009.
The circle is complete: activities in Italy, Austria and France
And now the circle is complete. The idea of organising a Grossglockner tour in Austria was rooted in the Italian project "Scalare il proprio Everest" launched by Prof. Masera in 2003.
In 2006 former childhood cancer patients (survivors) climbed the highest mountain in Austria for the first time within the scope of a joint project of St. Anna Children's Hospital and the parent initiative of the National Association of Paediatric Cancer Aid for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland.Thanks to the support from the EC and generous sponsors, it was possible to hold the Grossglocknertour again in 2009.
Since many years, "A Chacun son Everest!" is successfully organised in Chamonix, France. This psychosocial aftercare-project enables the young participants to switch their status from "sick children and adolescents" to "conquerors".
