Rock Aid 2004, Holds for Solidarity Pro Emergency
Ferentillo (Tr), May 1-2, 2004

Photo Pierluigi Zolli ©

The first national solidarity competition has taken place on the 1st and 2nd of May 2004, in the indoor climbing hall of Ferentillo (Tr). The money collected from sponsors, free donations, athletes’ entry fees and paying spectators has been handed over to Emergency, an Italian humanitarian association for the cure and rehabilitation of the victims of wars and landmines, finalized to promote a culture of peace and solidarity.
The event was born from an initiative of Andrea Di Bari and Antonella Strano, with the goal to give a concrete financial contribute to the people who directly act in countries where civilians are horrendously mutilated by landmines.
To bring together the climbing community for such a noble objective is, in our opinion, besides a suggestive possibility, (that now has become reality after this experience), an idea that should be farther developed in the future, in an always more effective way and, above all, with always better financial results, to favor this social project.
It was possible to realize the competition thanks to the synergy of the organizators, supported by the sponsors, famous climbers like Christian Brenna, Mauro Calibani and Severino Scassa, who have given more prestige to the event with their presence and at their expenses. An important help has been given by the actual managers of the hall, with the contribute of the Municipality of Ferentillo and the Comunità Montana, and the very precious support of the Chamber of Commerce of Ferentillo, thanks to the President Bernardo Alpini and his son Andrea.
The meeting’s routes have been set by Alessandro Jolly Lamberti, with the contribute of Andrea Di Bari. Very important also the help of the numerous volunteers who have dedicated many hours of work to the success of the event.
The event has taken place at both amateur (5b requested) and professional level, due to the high competitive level of the attending climbers. The event started on Saturday, with the qualification in flash style (after observing a route setter climbing the route, ndr) and with top rope. 6a+/6b the difficulty for the amateurs, 7b/7b+ for the professional climbers. Seventy participants in both categories.
An informative film about Emergency and their activity in Iraq has been shown during the day. Later, the concert of the Rumanian Rom band Taraf da Metropolitana.
The next day the finals, ten men and four women for both categories.
The amateurs climb first. Among the women success of Giorgia Fiamoi from Belluno, in front of the pretty Sarka Kysilkovo of the Czech Republic. Third the French woman Douchka Ceceille. Fourth a local girl, Elena Attili. Just afterwards the amateurs’ final; the winner is Stefano Mercuri, followed by Massimo Frezzotti of Rome. Third ex-equo two other local climbers, Fausto Sanna and Federico Frattini. The afternoon is the time for the high level. At 14.30 p.m. start of the four “strong” girls. A well deserved victory for Stefania Daniele from Sezze, in front of Giulia Baiocco, while Kathleen Scheda is third. Fourth Flaminia Capezzuoli.
In the men’s category victory for Graziano Guardabassi, who surprisingly wins in front of Christian Brenna, who doesn’t manage a huge morphological dyno. Third the strong Paolo Marcotulli, also from Rome, fourth Severino Scassa, who slips on the route, while he seems to be easily dominating the difficulty.
More than positive the results of the meeting. Seventy participants, 380 paying spectators in the two days of the event. Comforting data that have compensated the strong efforts made to overcome the numerous bureaucratic complications during the preparation of the event and that put in serious risk the realization of the meeting itself.
Luckily the main objective, to be able to collect an acceptable amount of money to give for charity, has been reached, and the great satisfaction of Emergency for the good result of the endeavor has represented the best reward for the engagement.
Now we hope to be able to repeat the event, so that with the contribute of everybody it will be possible to bring a small relief to those populations that are suffering under unjust life conditions, privations and loss of beloved family members, sometimes also because of the guilt of people from the western countries.
Antonella Strano e Andrea Di Bari