Fred Morini to cycle 2,500km across Europe after being paraylsed for the SECOND time

The former Gerolsteiner rider Federico "Fred" Morini is to ride 2,500km across Europe from Milan to Stockholm, exactly a year to the date from an accident that left him paralysed.

Riding the RAEU-Ride Across Europe, is a triumph for the cyclist, whose casual accident in his office, a banal fall from a chair caused him a “medullary shock” with paralysis to his legs forcing him to spend months in a specialized hospital.

Ironically, it was not the first time; in 2001 Fred, a young champion with a brilliant future ahead, had a terrible fall which left him paralyzed for a long time and forced him to resign from an professional career.

Fred credits his ability to resume cycling for the second time to his optimism, enthusiasm and his positivity.

The 38 year old from Umbria is now on a mission to raise funds for the Mayer Pediatric Hospital of Florence and Ronald McDonald House Charities Italy through the organization Rete del Dono.

He will depart on July 30th from Piazza Duomo in Milan with a first stop at Expo 2015, and moving on to Stockholm after pedaling for 2500 km in less than 12 days.

Fred said: “This challenge came from the personal necessity to find a great goal to help me look ahead with positivity.

“While I was in the spinal clinic and couldn’t feel my legs I was afraid of giving up, but I had the chances to learn about worse situations than mine, above all children affected by spinal and neurological diseases.

“So I decided that I had to create an opportunity for them trough fundraising.

“The choice of the institutes for the donations fell to Pediatric Hospital Mayer of Florence and Ronald McDonald House Charities Italy who undertake the construction of houses for families of the patients near the pediatric hospitals where they can live next to the children until they finish their therapeutic cycle.

“I would like it to be my personal victory, with which I demonstrate where there is a will there is a way, despite physical conditions each of us can reach any type of goal.

“In the most difficult of lives, even if everything seems irrecoverable, it’s first necessary to accept the verdict - once again I found myself reprogramming my life and my habits, not meaning that I lost something, but rather it taught me to be more determined.

“Sport is a great school of life, thanks to athletic experience and the lessons given to me by people who guided and advised me during my life as a sports person I learned to suffer in silence, never loosing my focus and reaching my goals.”
At the end of the event, a small documentary film will be made to thank all the partners and sponsors who have given contribution to the project.