Former entrepreneur Loretta Pavan on her bike on the Stelvio against cancer

“By cycling I learned to face the disease, I fight every day against the fear that the disease could return but sport is my medicine, getting on a saddle harmonizes body and mind”. With these words Loretta Pavan , 64 years old, a former entrepreneur who was struck by breast cancer in 2006, aims at the Everesting patent on the Stelvio: on 4 and 5 July she will cycle the Pass 6 times starting from Prato dello Stelvio, until reaching a height equal to that of Everest, that is 8,848 meters. It is her way of challenging the limits of the disease and sending a positive message to all those who are facing a cancer diagnosis.

Loretta's story

As anticipated, Loretta Pavan was struck by breast cancer when she was 45 years old. The same disease had also struck her two sisters when they were still young, who died within a few months of each other. After two years of treatments, hospitalizations and operations - without ever stopping working - came the change of life, thanks to a bicycle: in 2008 she left the company and began to pedal. Since then she has overcome numerous cycling challenges.

Everesting on the Stelvio

In this adventure - not coincidentally called "On the heights of courage" and sponsored by the ULSS8 Berica Health Authority and the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (Aiom) - she will remain in the saddle for many hours, with the possibility of some breaks but without sleeping. And in fact the success of the undertaking is not a given, because it requires a great psychological and physical commitment. For this reason too, she will not be alone: ​​together with her there will be the oncologists Rocco De Vivo (acting Director of the Vicenza Oncology Unit) and Massimo di Maio (Elect President of Aiom), Roberto Ciambetti (President of the Veneto Regional Council and Vice President of the Professional Cycling League) and the boxer Luca Rigoldi . A videomaker will also be documenting it, and it will be possible to follow her on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/LorettaPavan ) and Instagram ( www.instagram.com/pavanloretta ).

Two messages for doctors and patients

"As an oncologist, I perceive a strong symbolic value in accompanying a former patient on the challenging stretch of a climb such as a treatment process that initially seems insurmountable but then becomes manageable with help and sharing - says De Vivo - The message that Loretta addresses to all former or current cancer patients is to face treatment with courage and confidence in the progress that has been made in recent years and to try to return to a full and active life as soon as possible. The other issue that is close to my heart as an oncologist is that regular physical activity has enormous beneficial effects on reducing the side effects of many hormonal or chemotherapy treatments, as well as certainly having a preventive effect on the aging process and on many chronic-degenerative diseases".

Cycling as a Metaphor for Oncology

“For years I have been saying that for me cycling is a metaphor for oncology, both from the point of view of patients and doctors, and a difficult climb like that of the Stelvio symbolizes the difficulties of the journey but also the importance of sharing goals - concludes Di Maio - Aiom underlines the importance of physical exercise both for healthy people, as prevention, and for cancer patients: the example is important and I am very happy to be able to accompany Loretta in this message of sport and life”.

The fundraiser

Like other initiatives by Loretta, this one also has a charitable purpose: to raise funds to support the continuation of the many projects of the Friends of the Fifth Floor, a group of volunteers who take care of cancer patients and their families. www.amicidelquintopiano.it