Last sunday 16th june2013 ,the second edition of the “Differently Caver” has been held in Frasassi.
Twenty disabled have participated at the meeting,of which 4 not ambulant and they were able to visit the BeataVergine cave in Frasassi and The MezzogiornoCave , entering from the lower entrance in Santuario.
The disabled coming from Forlì, Pescara, Chieti e Terni have been supported by their parents and friends, by the Arcotenda Onlus Association, by the Stefano Zavka Association and by more then 60 Cavers coming from all around Italy and belonging to many Caving Groups.
The event has been sponsored by the Società Speleologica Italiana.
The event was possible, thanks to the arms power of the participants, thanks to the efficient service with walkie-talkie organized by the Circolo Speleologico Romano Cavers, thanks to the stretchers, one of which brand new, purchased with the voluntary donations of many cavers during the Spelaion2013 annual meeting and on line, and thanks to the fund-raising organized by Speleo Club Forlì.
The 700 meter of steep hill to enter the Santuario, has been done with wheelchairs and ropes, sled dog style and thanks the use of Joelette, a special wheelchair with only one wheel, especially created to transport the disabled on the hikingtracks, supplied by Stefano Zavka Association.
Given the special situation of the cave populated by immense bats colonies and being in a wonderful protected area, has been necessary obtain the access permits: therefore we would like to thanks the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Parc, the Parc Ranger, Genga Municipality, Genga’s Technical Office e the Traffic Policemen, that with their sensibility, allowed to held the event following the ways provided for by regulations in force.
In the afternoon we visited the touristic part of the Grande Vento Cave, and the disabledon the wheelchairs, have been able to complete the entire path, thanks to the helper’s arms powerand to the courtesy of the Cave’s Officials Tourist Guides.
This day helped to demonstrate that it is possible to do caving with disabled, for this reason this experience will be brought to the next Annual National Cavers Meeting in Casola 2013 where we will try to bring also the experience of other cavers around Italy to manage to organize in 2014 a national day dedicated to disability, with many events in different Italian caves.
In Casola we will try to identify the strength and weak points appeared in the previous experiences in order to simplify the next activities with disables in caves.The logistic organization of this event has been especially complicated with a gazebo /secretariat installed in the touristic parking two kilometers away from the cave, with a group at the entrance of the path for the loading and unloading operations , with another group at the cave exit taking care of the participants,with food & drinks and preparation for putting on stretchers, with two stretcher’s carriers groups that physically follow through the disables into the cave.
It is impossible to describe the emotions of such an intense and special day, difficult to thank one by one each of the participants.
The pictures, the movies and the comments are posted on the event facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/366537443459603
and everybody can look at it.
From my side, in the name of the organizers of Differently Cavers, I want to thank the big heart of the cavers coming from all around Italy that with their presence have permitted all this;here only the participating Caving Groupsfor purely practical reason:
Speleo Club Roma
GS Pipistrelli CAI Terni
Associazione Stefano Zavka Terni
GES CAI Pescara
Società Adriatica di Speleologia Trieste
Gruppo Grotte e Forre CAI L’Aquila
GS Città di Castello
Speleo Club Orobico Bergamo
Speleo Club Forlì
GS Sabino Magliano Sabina
Circolo Speleologico Romano
GS Treviso
GS CAI Perugia
GS Chieti
Associazione “La Macchina del Tempo”
Associazione Speleologica Bresciana
GS UTEC Narni
GS Trevisiol Vicenza
GS Pistoia
GS Vespertilio Salisano
Associazione La Scintilena
Thanks!
Traslator: Claudia Rossetti