6 Hours of Lake Barrea

The 6 Hours of Lake Barrea

The 6 Hours of Lake Barrea is a non-competitive marathon held every year in early July on the shores of the picturesque Lake Barrea, in the town of Barrea, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Organized by ADMO Abruzzo ODV, the bone marrow donor association, the event combines sports, nature, and social commitment in a single day.

Six hours for the gift of life

The event's concept is simple and engaging: from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, participants can freely traverse the perimeter of the lake—by walking, running, or cycling—completing as many laps as they wish, with no rankings or timers. This non-competitive format makes the event accessible to everyone, from experienced runners to families with children. The goal is not performance, but shared time: six hours dedicated to reflecting on the value of giving and promoting the culture of bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell donation.

History and memory

The event was born in 2010 from the vision of Manfredi Salemme, an ADMO supporter from Genoa who discovered Lake Barrea during a walk across Italy in 2008. The event is dedicated to his memory and that of Liborio Tarquinio, a resident of Barrea who passed away due to leukemia. Each edition hosts the Liborio Tarquinio Memorial and the Manfredi Salemme Memorial, alongside the "Vallis Regia walks with ADMO" initiative.

A national-level event

Having grown over time, the 6 Hours of Lake Barrea now attracts participants from all over Italy—including Lazio, Lombardy, Umbria, Campania, and Sicily—confirming its status as a highly anticipated national event. Since 2016, several members of ADMO Sulmona have become active stem cell donors, a concrete testament to the event's impact.

An event immersed in nature

The setting is the enchanting Lake Barrea, one of the most beautiful villages in Abruzzo, overlooking a body of water surrounded by the mountains and beech forests of the National Park. The day begins at the Casale sul lago, in the Convento area, and includes moments of testimony, reflection, and conviviality that make it much more than just a simple sporting walk.