After 10 months of cycling through 20 countries and territories, exceeding 22,000 km, Marino (53 years old, Spanish athlete) has officially set foot in Vietnam.
His journey is not only a personal record but also carries a humanitarian mission, connecting love from Spain and France to cancer patients and people in flooded areas in Central Vietnam.
The motivation for this unusual journey of Marino comes from the pain of losing his father to white blood disease. He shared: "This trip is a tribute to my father. I decided to take this trip to promote against cancer, because I know this disease affects many people, including me.
Each kilometropower that passes through symbolizes a "drop" of hope. In Vietnam, this project has been realized through the 20-year-long strong cooperation between Vinh Duc General Hospital and the Water Drops Organization (La Goutte d'Eau - France).
The Spanish man faced challenges from harsh climates when cycling in the white snow, rain, cold bones, constant wind turned back... All of this put pressure on the body, the fatigue accumulated over many months made him feel like there were times when he was really miserable.
However, keeping on the road for many months is not a problem for Marino. He never intended to give up. Thanks to the encouragement and support of his children at home and the support of the Water Drops Organization, he completed his journey and arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam at the end of December.
On the morning of December 25, Marino was welcomed at Vinh Duc General Hospital, then he continued to Go Noi - the final leg of his journey across the continent. At the beginning of Go Noi commune, he and a representative of the Go Noi Love Fund planted a souvenir rice tree.
According to Marino, a special journey is not about the finish line but how it ends. When he arrived in Da Nang, he decided to give the Go Noi Love Fund a bicycle and the entire personal journey on the trip: a helmet, competition costumes and medals.
All will be received by the fund and auctioned in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2026. The collected funds will be used to purchase means and equipment for rescue work during the flood season for people in flood-prone areas along the Thu Bon River, where they face natural disasters every year.
Phan Phuoc Nhat and Tran Thu, co-founder of the Go Noi Love Fund, were the ones who welcomed Marino in the final leg of the 22,000 km journey, opening a new chapter in the journey.
Marino chose to stop at Go Noi as a way of sympathy for the difficulties of this land that is often affected by natural disasters.
We believe that although his journey has stopped geographically, his humanistic value continues to spread, as the bicycle continues meaningful new loops, Phuoc Nhat shared.
Marino's journey shows another approach to travel - a way to connect, heal and spread positive living values. The bicycle and Marino stopped but the journey continued with charitable causes.
