On Friday 04/09/2015 during the 10th Arco Rock Legends celebration in Arco, Italy, Alexander Megos received the Salewa Rock Award while Adam Ondra won the La Sportiva Competition Award. The prestigious Dryarn Climbing Ambassador by Aquafil prize was handed to John Ellison, founder of CAC – Climbers Against Cancer.
Emotional. But perhaps that doesn’t suffice to describe it. There was something different, perhaps deeper, more profound, in that intense and spontaneous applause that welcomed John Ellison on stage during the 10th Arco Rock Legends. Kay Rush, as usual the splendid host of these international sport climbing awards, welcomed him wearing her CAC – Climbers Against Cancer T-shirt. He, John, with his amazed and at the same time moved smile, watched the audience as it simply would not stop applauding. There was affection, sincere warmth in that applause, affinity. “I am one of you and it’s thanks to you that I’m here. This award belongs to everyone, we all received it“ said John. As if to say: I’m still here thanks to you, thanks to the energy you have given me. An energy that is symbolically represented by 25,000 CAC t-shirts and 500,000 euro raised, destined to various cancer research centers dotted across the five continents.
