“Trembling without fear”: the Via Francigena by bike to challenge Parkinson’s, Paolo Muzi’s feat

Paolo Muzia cyclist affected by Parkinson’s disease since 2019, he has embarked on an extraordinary adventure: travel over 1,000 kilometers by bicycle along the Via Francigena, from the Great Saint Bernard Pass to Rome. This journey, which will take place in approx twenty daysis not only a personal challenge, but also wants to give a message of hope for those living with this disease.

After receiving the diagnosis, Muzi decided to and continue to live fully. With his retirement in May, he felt the need to turn his experience into an initiative that could help others in his situation.

That’s how she was born.”Tremble Without Fear”, a project aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of physical activity in the management of Parkinson’s and supporting people affected by this disease. The initiative is designed to encourage mobility and actiontwo fundamental elements for dealing with the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

The goal is to combat the negative psychological effects of Parkinson’s

Muzi wants to show that, despite the challenges, it is possible to maintain an active and positive lifestyle. His trip is also an opportunity to meet and involve other cyclists and people who share his battle. With the motto “Tremble Without Fear”, Muzi intends to inspire others not to give up and react to the difficulties generated by the disease.

The path that Muzi has planned is divided into 15 stages and provides a total altitude difference of 9,800 metres. The departure took place on September 6th and his goal is to arrive in Rome, in St. Peter’s Square, on September 26th. During the journey anyone interested will be able to join him, either for a short distance or for the entire journey or simply to have a chat during a coffee break.

Paolo also wants to fight the negative psychological effects associated with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, often leading to social isolation and lowered morale. For this reason his adventure along the Via Francigena seeks to create a support network for all those fighting against this disease, encouraging them to stay active and not feel alone in their daily battle.