#16 - Alex and Hector Rodriguez: What is RETOPEDAELA and why you should join this initiative
This chapter is not about events, but it is about the philosophy and attitude on which Marca Condal was built. Alex and Héctor present RETOPEDAELA, an initiative that has been around for more than 7 years and seeks to raise awareness and funds for research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that paralyses the muscles and organs of the patient until it kills them.
Kilometers against ALS: the challenge that was born from a promise.
PEDAELA CHALLENGE: Kilometers that save lives
Sometimes, an event is much more than a celebration. It is a purpose, a cause, a cry of struggle. In this episode of El Desmurphybrillador , brothers Héctor and Alex tell us the story of Reto PEDAELA , the solidarity initiative they created after losing their grandmother to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
For more than seven years, this challenge has combined cycling, self-improvement and solidarity with a single objective: to raise funds for ALS research and give visibility to a devastating disease . A journey of physical and emotional resistance that has turned each pedal stroke into an opportunity to change lives.
What is ALS and why is research urgently needed?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that paralyzes the body until the patient dies . It affects mobility, breathing and the ability to communicate, leaving those who suffer from it completely aware of their deterioration.
💡 There is no cure and its origin is still a mystery , which makes research the only hope to stop its progress.
A challenge on wheels: this is how PEDAELA Challenge was born
It all started with a question: Is it possible to ride a mountain bike, barely touching the asphalt, the route between Barcelona and the cemetery where our grandmother rests in less than 150 hours?
This is how Camino de Lembranza was born, the first major challenge of the initiative. An epic journey that united effort, visibility and solidarity, and which became an inspiring documentary available on YouTube.
Since then, each year Reto PEDAELA has added new challenges, with challenges such as:
✅ Titan Desert : The toughest cycling race in the desert, completed alongside Alex Roca
✅ Pilgrim Race : 700 km from Madrid to Santiago, the prelude to his greatest challenge.
✅ Transpirenaica : Crossing the Pyrenees by bicycle on one of the most demanding routes in Spain.
How the fight against ALS is financed
PEDAELA Challenge has managed to involve brands and sponsors through a simple but effective model:
📌 Kilometers for donations : Companies and brands contribute financially according to the distance traveled in each challenge.
📌 Charity merchandising : Exclusive designs of cycling jerseys, the profits from which go to research.
📌 Events and Family Trips : Annual meetings that combine sport, tourism and fundraising.
The money raised goes directly to hospitals and foundations that work in research and support for patients and families .
A legacy that continues pedaling
Although the pace of the challenges has changed over time, the mission remains alive. PEDAELA Challenge remains active with solidarity events that allow us to continue fighting the disease. Because, as his grandmother said before leaving, "Don't stand still."
📢 Discover the full story in this episode of El Desmurphybrillador and join the cause. Every kilometer counts.