3 minute read
by Federica Fiorletta
The ride to solidarity for neuro-oncology children and their families
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Federica Fiorletta
Fondazione HEAL
“You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.” - Patch Adams
Fondazione Heal is a non-profit organisation in Rome, Italy founded by families of children affected by brain tumours . The Fondazione was born from the commitment of this group of families sharing a profound experience of pain, which has been turned into a direct and immediate action to support projects in the paediatric neuro-oncology research field .
First as individuals and then as a group, we are committed to providing financial support to scientific research projects in order to favour the study and the cure for paediatric central nervous system tumours which, although rare, are the most common solid tumours in the paediatric age, representing a leading cause of death or permanent side effects and deficits among children .
However, we have set our goal to helping research a cure for both the body and the soul - both biologically and existentially speaking . Indeed, we firmly believe that a treatment for the body would not be possible if the person – in this case, the child - is not considered as an indissoluble whole of body and soul during the whole healing process .
Why “Solidarity Taxis”? This is also the creed behind our project of the “Solidarity Taxis” . This is a completely free-of-charge transportation service, which has been available in Rome since 2021 . Our “Solidarity Taxis” have been created for those families and their children who need to reach centres specialised in the care of
With its bright colours, this Solidarity Taxi is a colourful support for young brain tumour patients receiving care and support at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Research Hospital in Rome, Ita
paediatric cancers and can have a hard time moving around a big city like Rome .
It may appear that this project deviates from our higher purpose of supporting scientific research in paediatric neurooncology . Instead, we believe that our Solidarity Taxis serve an important purpose in our work as well, because of our broader mission to offer all-round support to children with brain tumours and their families .
When a child falls ill with cancer, the whole family falls ill too . Families also have to deal with practical problems or difficulties . And sometimes those problems and difficulties are not secondary at all .
In Italy, for instance, there are very few centres of reference on rare diseases . Among them is the Bambino Gesù Children’s Research Hospital, a centre of excellence in healthcare institutions . The Bambino Gesù is based in Rome and has branches across the whole city . People go there from across the nation but also from abroad . They come from afar and sometimes parents are also forced to leave their job to follow and take care of their children . ➤
Helping to heal the children and their families Thus, Fondazione Heal - which is a partner of the hospital - has thought of the “Solidarity Taxis”, so as to make the neuro-oncology disease and the healing process of children easier to manage for some families .
From 2021 to date, we already have five “Solidarity Taxis” in Rome, giving an average of three rides per day . We estimate to have already transported little brain tumour patients and their families more than 240,000 km during their treatment journey at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Research Hospital!
We say to all: “Join our ride to solidarity with kindness and courage” . n
For more information about Fondazione Heal’s “Solidarity Taxis” and the additional activities of the organisation, please visit: https://www.progettoheal.com/
Another Fondazione Heal Solidarity Taxi hits the road in Italy!
