Diego Colichelli — 107 km of Courage in Seven Lakes

107 Kilometres of Gratitude: Diego Colichelli’s Journey Through the Seven Lakes

On 23 November, Diego Colichelli took on one of Argentina’s most breathtaking and demanding cycling challenges — the Gran Fondo 7 Lagos. The race stretches 107 kilometres between Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes, winding through mountain roads, lakes, and rugged terrain.

For many cyclists, the event is a test of endurance and strength. For Diego, it was something more profound.

Just two years ago, Diego received a kidney transplant — a life-changing moment that gave him a second chance. Standing on the starting line of the Gran Fondo, he wasn’t only preparing for a long ride through the mountains; he was celebrating the opportunity to be there at all.

The journey through the Seven Lakes region is known for its beauty, but also for its physical demands. Long climbs, changing weather, and sustained effort make the route challenging even for experienced cyclists. Diego completed the 107 km course knowing that every kilometre represented resilience, recovery, and gratitude.

What makes Diego’s story especially powerful is the source of his transplant. His donor was not a blood relative. Instead, his kidney was donated by his daughter’s aunt — a reminder that family is not defined only by genetics, but by generosity, love, and selfless choice.

For Diego, this act of donation transformed his life. Cycling through the mountains became a way to honour that gift — not with words, but with action. Each pedal stroke was a quiet expression of appreciation for the opportunity to live, to move, and to experience the world again.

Diego Colichelli’s ride through the Gran Fondo 7 Lagos stands as a powerful example of what life after transplant can look like. It is not about limits — it is about possibility. It is about embracing life fully, even when the road is long and the climb is steep.

His journey reminds us that organ donation does more than save lives.
It allows people to return to the moments that make life meaningful — and sometimes, to ride 107 kilometres through the mountains to celebrate that second chance.