At 6:15 am on Easter Sunday, 14-year old Getúlio Felipe, who has cerebral palsy, began climbing the highest mountain in the Dolomites, Italy to prove that anything is possible and that the outdoors are accessible to everyone.
After nine straight hours of battling deep snowpack, cold weather and physical exhaustion, Getúlio reached the top of the Punta Penia peak, a glacier reaching 3,343-meters (10,968 feet).
Lyfx founder, Pedro McCardell, and professional mountain guide, Alessio Nardellotto, were by Getúlio’s side to ensure his safety and help him reach his goal of summiting the mountain.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Center for Disease Control, cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
Getúlio: “Anything Is Possible!”
“I made it to the top! It’s crazy that I was once told I’d never walk and I just climbed to the top of a mountain,” said Getúlio Felipe.
“I am grateful to my friend, Pedro, and the entire team for believing in me and helping people of all abilities realize that anything in life is possible.”
Documentary: Driven
Each snow-packed step was captured, recorded and will soon be documented in an independent film called “Driven”.
Produced by Lyfx, the documentary’s purpose is to help people of all abilities realize that anything in life is possible.
Click below to watch a teaser trailer and visit the Lyfx Instagram account for photos and stories from the climb.
“Climbing with Getulio was the most rewarding adventure of my life,” said Pedro McCardell, founder of Lyfx. “I feel honored to have climbed alongside him and helped make his dream of summiting a mountain a reality.”
The climb was made possible thanks to a number of organizations, including UNESCO Dolomiti Foundation, Alta Badia, SportFund Foundation, Elikos, Climbing Technology and Montura.
Skiing in The Dolomites
I have skied in the Dolomites near Cortina D’Ampezzo, staying at Hotel Ambra Cortina, and I can testify this must have been a pretty rough walk!
The hills around Cortina, and the Dolomites in general, are huge, with solid rock formations and pretty steep walls! I struggled to ski with healthy legs, so I can’t imagine how tough it must have been walking up with cerebral palsy!
Entrepreneur Pedro McCardell
Lyfx is an adventure platform that connects adventurers with local outdoor experts. The company is the brainchild of Pedro McCardell, an adventurer, filmmaker and entrepreneur, who saw the need to make the outdoors more accessible to everyone.