In the Moldovan language, “Luminita” means “little light.” In Sîngerei, in the north of the country, a “little light” shines amidst many difficulties, with the sole goal of never going out. This is a beautiful story.
Giving value
GreenEDGE Cycling mechanic, Vasile Morari has lived in Italy for most of his life, but he was born – and grew up in – Moldova. In July, he embarked on an epic journey that saw him connect the two countries that had nurtured him.
“I’d been thinking about cycling to Moldova for a while,” Morari explained. “I’ve spent 20 of my 34 years in Italy, but I’m still very attached to my roots. While discussing this idea, a dear friend of mine asked me if I’d ever thought about linking the trip to a charity initiative. It was a very valuable suggestion.”
The decision to raise funds for Centrul Luminita – a centre for children with disabilities in Sîngerei, Moldova – was the next step. “I wanted to do something for my community,” Morari said, “so I wanted to make sure the funds raised wouldn’t go missing. In other words, I wanted to deliver the money directly to the centre’s director without going through any institutional offices. You never know where they might end up!”
The journey
While the distance was big, planning the trip was very simple for Morari. “I don’t like to plan out all the details. I love adventure, so I said to myself, ‘I have to ride 2,000 kilometres in 10 days.’ The maths is easy: each stage will be 200 kilometres, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a few more or less,” he said.
To undertake the journey, Morari was given Max Walscheid’s 2024 Giant Propel Advanced to ride. He was accompanied by two of his friends: Mauro and Christian, who were stepping into the unknown as they had only ridden as far as Slovenia. Aside from the punctures and the urban crossings, the trip went smoothly – despite the relaxed planning approach from Morari.
The only majorly difficult moment came during the penultimate day of their trip near the border between Romania and Ukrainian. A strategy to avoid traffic saw them on a bit more of an adventure than they had bargained for.
“We used Komoot, an app that helps you avoid busy roads. Too bad it took us 40 kilometres on a dirt road through the woods, and to top it off, in heavy rain. The owner of a small shop ‘saved’ us by giving us hot tea and something to eat.”
Arrival at Sîngerei
“It was late afternoon, and when we arrived in front of the centre, everyone was outside waiting for us,” Morari said. “It may seem obvious, but it was a great feeling. I felt like I was doing something useful.”
Luminita hosts about 20 children aged three to 12 with disabilities and autism. Most of them go to school in the morning, and in the afternoon, visit the centre where they have access to physiotherapists and psychologists. Morari’s stay in Sîngerei lasted three days, and he returned to the centre on several occasions during that time.
“Compared to the Western world,” he explained, “autism spectrum disorder is a relatively new topic, and there’s less awareness of the issue.”
Of all the centre’s residents, Morari was particularly struck by Andrej, a 12-year-old with a mild form of autism. “He’s a very nice guy and filled us with questions about the bike and the trip. His story is that of hundreds of Moldovan children: abandoned by their fathers, a mother who works abroad, and grandparents who raise them.”
Raising money
Morari’s trip raised nearly 7,000 euros. A substantial sum that, so far, has been used to purchase new beds to replace those from the Soviet era and to pay for treatment.
“I keep myself updated,” Morari emphasised, “but it’s clear that keeping Luminita afloat requires money, and it’s not easy for a small centre like this to raise all the money it would need.” The situation is further complicated by the general economic situation. Moldova was for many years one of the poorest nations in Europe.
While many Moldovans have chosen to emigrate, the country’s economic and social situation remains difficult, even though there are some signs of recovery. Moldova is expected to join the European Union by 2030, and recently, public investment has increased – for example, in infrastructure and transportation – and it is hoped that this will contribute to the country’s development.
It’s been about four months since the trip to Moldova, and Morari continues to think about it often. “It was a truly enriching experience. I was able to see firsthand what solidarity and everyone’s help can do.”
Morari will certainly continue to create opportunities to help those less fortunate. In this small undertaking, our team also wants to do its part. Therefore, we decided to auction off one of our team’s bikes. All proceeds will go to Luminita so that this “little light” can continue to shine.
Click here for more details on the auction and to make your bid.
