From 0 to 0 – Pania della Croce

Andrea Lanfri's Challenge for World Meningitis Day

Movie "Over - Andrea Lanfri" by Giacomo Biancalani.

On April 24, 2024, on World Meningitis Day, Andrea Lanfri will once again push his physical limits. A "From 0 to 0" challenge starting from the pier of Forte dei Marmi to the summit of Pania della Croce, the queen of the Apuan Alps, and back. A cycling and running challenge, his way to "fight" against meningitis.

Struck by meningitis with meningococcal sepsis in 2015, Andrea Lanfri experienced firsthand the dramatic consequences of the disease, losing both legs and seven fingers. Many would have given up in such a situation, but not Andrea, who after a challenging recovery, hungry for life, decides to challenge himself again. Every year on April 24, Andrea thinks of a new project dedicated to that day.

From 0 to 0 – Pania della Croce
On April 24, Andrea will start from the pier of Forte dei Marmi cycling a distance of 22 kilometers and 1000 meters of positive elevation gain, until reaching Antro del Corchia (Levigliani). Here, he will leave the bike and switch his prosthetics to running ones. Then, running, he will ascend the "voltoline" trail to the summit of Pania della Croce. This trail covers 5 kilometers with 1000 meters of positive elevation gain. Upon reaching the top, there's no time to rest; Andrea will face the return journey to the starting point, first running and then cycling back to the pier of Forte dei Marmi.
In total, Andrea will cover 54 kilometers and 2000 meters of positive elevation gain.

Andrea Lanfri is no stranger to challenges of this kind. The first edition of "From 0 to 0" took place in September 2020, when he started from the seafront of Lerici (La Spezia), ready to cycle and run the distance to the summit of Monte Pisanino, and back. After that, many more followed: From 0 to 0 Monte Serra, From 0 to 0 Etna, From 0 to 0 Gran Sasso, From 0 to 0 Monte Rosa, and even From 0 to 0 Volcano Teide. "The 'From 0 to 0' is a project that aims to combine all my passions into one great experience," explains Andrea. "It's an event never undertaken before by a Paralympic athlete."

Supporters of the Project
In 2021, Andrea participated as a spokesperson at the annual celebration of the Apuane Libere association, which that year saw groups of Apuan lovers on every Apuan peak simultaneously at lunchtime. Volunteers from the association, among others, or simple supporters simultaneously recorded a video, later edited into a collective embrace of the mountain range against the extractive exploitation of the Apuan Alps.
In this sports event, Andrea and Apuane Libere aim to "inspire because in life's challenges, motivations and strength can always be found. You can always start over; starting over is possible! The effort is temporary, but the satisfaction is an experience that lasts forever. A symbol to keep in mind, especially when we have to make choices or fight for mountains disappearing before our eyes due to human shortsightedness and greed, making us seem like Don Quixote against windmills."

Other supporters of the project include the National Committee Against Meningitis and the Meningitis Research Foundation: Meningitis and Septicaemia.

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