Franz Jörg cycles from Germany to Sicily to support rare-disease research

Franz Jörg, a former German firefighter, has passed through Riva del Garda during his bicycle journey from Germany to Sicily. He was hosted at the fire station, where he took a break before continuing south. The initiative raises awareness of rare paediatric diseases, particularly Tay-Sachs, Sandhoff and GM1, and aims to collect funds for research and support for families.

In 2026, Richter has already covered more than 70,000 kilometres in total, following tens of thousands of kilometres and three crossings of the United States. The project has been supported by the Deutscher Feuerwehrverband since 2018, while fire stations along the route often provide him with a place to stay overnight. The Lake Garda stage is also part of this solidarity journey, turning every kilometre cycled into support for research into rare and particularly serious diseases affecting children.