This story is about an event called “Two friends, two disabilities, one goal, a common dream. The tales of the Iceland Traverse.” On January 25th, Senators Giusy Versace and Antonio Guidi shared the story of their crossing of Iceland from north to south. The narrative focused on emotions, friendship, adventure, light, and shadows, as told by the protagonists: Daniele Matterazzo, an environmental hiker and disability sports fundraiser, and Simone Salvagnin, a visually impaired Paralympic athlete on the national paraclimbing team.
Daniele and Simone met in 2023 during a trek, and their instant friendship led them to plan a 400-kilometer journey from Akureyri to Skogar. Due to conflicting schedules, they set off a week apart, but this did not deter them from completing the journey. Their ultimate purpose was to raise funds for the Emozionabile ETS association in Perugia, a non-profit organization that provides and manages a portal of accessible emotional experiences for people with disabilities, contributing to overcoming cultural barriers. Their respective journeys lasted twenty days, with seventeen days of walking and three days of forced rest due to bad weather.
On average, they covered twenty-five kilometers per day while carrying thirty kilograms of equipment, including a tent, a water filter, and necessary food supplies. The senators saw this expedition as an opportunity to rethink disability, focusing on the possibility of reclaiming one’s body and experiential accessibility. They also noted the potential for legislative improvement and the inspiring impact of life experiences. Daniele, with limited use of one arm due to a serious accident at fifteen years old, embarked on the adventure alone, driven by a desire to challenge himself and inspired by the movie “The Way of St.
James.” Simone emphasized the introspective nature of the journey, experiencing a deep connection with oneself in the face of the harsh Icelandic environment, leading to a profound state of presence and self-reflection.