“Together we see 1%”

Two Romanian athletes with visual impairments train for an expedition on Mont Blanc.

After the national premiere registered at the end of last year, when the blind climber Alex Benchea climbed, together with the international guide Cosmin Andron, on Kilimanjaro – 5,895 m, this year we register a new premiere, Răzvan Nedu, category B2 (athletes with a view between 1 and 5 %) and Alex Benchea, category B1 (completely blind athletes) are training to climb to the top of the Alps. On Sunday, June 5, the two athletes, together with a team of professionals, climbed on the roof of Romania, Moldoveanu Peak (2544 m). Alex and Răzvan see 1% together, are part of the National Paraclimbing Team and represent Romania at national and international competitions.

Alex Benchea and Răzvan Nedu, two visually impaired athletes, legitimized at the Climb Again Club, are preparing for an expedition on Mont Blanc – 4,810 m, where they will arrive in mid-July.

Alex and Răzvan see 1% together, but that did not stop them from representing Romania at national and international competitions.

“My dream goes on. Succeeding with Kilimanjaro was just the proof that any dream becomes possible when you are determined and have the right people by your side. For this new expedition, on Mont Blanc, I also want Răzvan next to me because we are both visually impaired athletes. I am completely blind, and Răzvan sees 1%. In these conditions, the community of visually impaired children has role models in us, young people can be inspired by our successes to embrace an independent life “, says Alex Benchea, the  pearly-eyed alpinist.

The expedition on Mont Blanc is scheduled for July this year, and this ascent is part of Alex Benchea’s dream to conquer 3 peaks: Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Elbrus.

The team from Climb Again that climbed the Moldoveanu Peak over the weekend