Ua woman who knows no bounds. Paola Gianotti, is the athlete who broke 4 Guinness World Records and who, in these days, has completed a new feat: 2022 km by bike with a single goal, to combine sport with responsibility towards the environment and ecosystems. She left on February 25 from Stockholm and arrived in Milan, after two weeks on her two-wheeler for the project Bike for treein the name of the environment.
Paola Gianotti Bike for Tree
How was this new initiative born?
“In my businesses, more than records I have always tried to give importance to the social reasons that pushed me to make them, so when I crossed the 48 states of the United States in 43 days, the goal was to collect donations to help women in poverty in Uganda, last September the “All4Bike” marathon from Rome to Milan was in the name of the fight against climate change. Bike for tree, it is the first step, indeed the first ride, of a larger project that foresees the planting of 2022 trees within the year“.
How important is contact with nature for you?
“It is vital, essential. That’s the reason I left my business as a financial advisor and the company I started and got on a bike. I couldn’t stay closed in an office. Every day I go cycling in the woods to recharge, to recover energy, to be at peace with myself. Trees are part of my life. I am magic. I also talk to the trees. “
Did you donate trees along the route from Stockholm to Milan?
«This ride was meant to be a crossing to ideally unite Europe. The itinerary also wanted to document some important examples of sustainability with the aim of planting some plants donated by the Forest Police who carry out “A tree for the future” (www.unalberoperilfuturo.it ), a project to raise awareness of environmental issues and education on legality which plans to plant 50,000 trees in 10 years.
In each of the 14 stages I handed over a map. I did it in Stockholm where I met Greta Thunberg and with the guys from Friday For Future I took part in a demonstration for peace under the Russian embassy.
In Samsø, the zero-emission island of Denmark, I donated a plant to the mayor and one to the Energy Academy which is based there. Strasbourg was also an exciting stage. I gave Pina Picierno, vice-president of the European Parliament a plaque in memory of David Sassoli and a Falcone plant, it is a Ficus that grows in front of the residence that belonged to Judge Giovanni Falcone in Palermo. In this difficult historical moment, delivering this plant, a symbol of legality and peace, was a great emotion that I will carry in my heart forever. “
Paola Gianotti. Just Outside Stockholm
The cyclist’s forest
Upon arrival in Milan you created a park, how many plants did you plant?
«After having been to Palazzo Marino, together with other cyclists, we reached the Parco delle Cave on the outskirts of Milan where, together with the children of three schools, we planted 100 trees. Thus was born the Forest of the cyclist dedicated to all children who are our futurededicated to cyclists and to I light up lessthe initiative promoted by Caterpillar, the Rai Radio Due program, which supported the Bike for tree for its entire duration. The choice of the arrival date of my trip was not, in fact, accidental, but wanted to confirm the twinning with the important initiative dedicated to energy saving which is held on 11 March. This year’s invitation, in addition to the symbolic shutdowns, is to “pedal, revive and improve” ”
Bike for tree is it the beginning of a larger project?
«The goal to be achieved is that of plant 2022 trees by next year, in partnership with WOWnature (www.wownature.eu), a spin-off of the University of Padua, in order to raise public awareness on the climate crisis and on strategies to mitigate its effects such as planting a tree and protecting existing forests. Everyone can participate by adopting a tree or giving it away. I have chosen to plant them in the Bosco di Fontaniva, in Veneto, along the Brenta riverand in the park of San Colombano in Lombardy, but others will soon be added.
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