Sports
How Cycling Inspired a Second Chance and Built Pedal Altino
After two kidney transplants, Edson Henrique turned to cycling to rebuild his health and transform his community in Osasco.
Edson Henrique's journey illustrates how cycling can transcend sport to become a powerful tool for recovery and social transformation. Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease as a young man, he overcame two transplants and founded Pedal Altino, transforming neighborhood rides into a competitive road cycling team in Osasco.
Early diagnosis and the battle against kidney failure
Originally from the interior of Minas Gerais, Edson Henrique moved to Osasco at age 19 to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, an observant doctor at his workplace noticed physical warning signs, which laboratory tests soon confirmed as severe chronic kidney failure. The condition required immediate hospitalization and hemodialysis sessions three times a week.
At age 20, Edson underwent his first kidney transplant with a donation from his father. Lacking a full understanding of the disease's gravity and believing he was cured, he neglected his medication and medical routine in the years that followed. The transplanted kidney gradually lost function, sending him back to dialysis at age 38, where he waited three more years for a matching donor—a difficult period during which he also lost a brother to the same genetic condition.
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A fresh start on two wheels in Presidente Altino
After receiving a second transplant from a deceased donor, his doctors delivered an emphatic warning: a third procedure would be virtually impossible, making a permanent lifestyle overhaul a matter of survival. Edson needed regular exercise. Finding gym workouts unappealing, he bought a mountain bike and began riding through the streets of the Presidente Altino neighborhood in Osasco.
To enhance safety on evening rides, he invited neighbors and local acquaintances to join him. The first ride brought together eight cyclists, marking the birth of Pedal Altino. The group grew rapidly through word of mouth, combining weekly rides with food stops at local street markets and expanding routes to Barueri and the city of São Paulo.
From the pandemic boom to epic cycling trips
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the movement gained significant momentum. Taking strict precautions as a high-risk individual, Edson and his fellow cyclists kept the community engaged through photos and social media updates. As group activities resumed, the team launched initiatives like Slow Kids, which gathered more than 150 cyclists and children for 16-kilometer rides, attracting families from several neighboring cities.
With uniformed guides, two-way radios, and pre-mapped routes, Pedal Altino began organizing major cycling expeditions along iconic routes such as the Caminho da Fé, Rota da Luz, and coastal descents across the Serra do Mar. Among the group's most memorable feats was tackling the Serra do Rio do Rastro, conquered on mountain bikes on a grueling route where teamwork ensured every cyclist reached the finish.
The transition to a competitive road cycling team
As participants developed technical skills and endurance, several members sought greater challenges in competitive events. Proceeds from jersey sales and cycling trips provided the seed funding needed to register athletes in regional races. Their standout performances on the road drew the attention of local authorities, integrating Pedal Altino into Osasco's official sports structure to compete in the Regional Games alongside other municipal programs.
With the formal establishment of a sports association, the team turned its full focus toward competitive road cycling (Road), nurturing male and female talent in developmental categories. For Edson, the daily commitment to training reflects the discipline he honed through years of medical treatment: dedication to cycling is his way to safeguard his health and create opportunities for others to transform their lives on two wheels.
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