CWGC at Ortona Challenge race 80th Anniversary edition

The 3rd edition of the ‘race in history’ took place along the streets of Ortona, in the province of Chieti in Abruzzo region, Italy.

Members of the visiting Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums, Canada with Giordano Righetti, CWGC External Relations Advisor Central and Southern Europe Area.

In the Second World War Ortona was the eastern end of the German defensive line called ‘Gustav’ line. The city called by Churchill “the Stalingrad of Italy”, where in December 1943 the 1st Canadian Division, having crossed the Moro river, engaged in a week of bitter street fighting against strong resistance by German paratroopers  finally liberating Ortona on the 28th December 1943.

90 year old Tommaso Cespa, who remembers the war days in Ortona when he was aged 10 with Giordano Righetti.

1,615 Commonwealth fallen of the battle of Ortona, most of them Canadians, are commemorated in CWGC’s Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.

The CWGC is part of the organizing committee of this year’s 80th anniversary edition, which registered more than 300 runners in the competitive race, plus 50 among children and teenagers in the youth category.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums band from Edmonton, Canada, who played in the central Piazza San Tommaso at the end of the race; and by the historic group of flag-wavers and musicians from the city of Ortona, among others.

Ortona Challenge is organized by amateur sports club “Ortona for Runners” together with Crossroads non-profit association.