A company that goes beyond athletic performance, becoming a symbol of rebirth, determination and inclusion: patients of the IRCCS neurolese center “Bonino Pulejo” of Messina, today Paralympic athletes, have crossed the Strait of Messina swimming together with the general manager Maurizio Lanza, the administrative director Maria Felicita Crupi and several employees of the institute. The crossing, from Capo Peloro to the Cannitello beach, was organized by IRCCS itself as part of a rehabilitation and integration path through sport.
Under the guidance of the federal coach Massimo Giacoppo And with the medical and technical support guaranteed by a boat in tow, the group faced the stretch of sea with courage and team spirit, after months of intense preparation.
“This crossing of the Strait – said the general manager Lanza – is an emblematic event that shows how, even after difficult events, it is possible to get back into the game and win the challenges. Sport is a powerful leverage to offer new opportunities to our patients, and we are working with the Paralympic Committee to start other sports activities structured and assisted by qualified technicians “.
The collaboration between the IRCCS and the Italian Paralympic Committee provides for the development of numerous disciplines dedicated to patients in the rehabilitation phase, including table tennis, archery, swimming, athletics, sailing and sitting volleyball.
Great satisfaction also by the Administrative Director Crupi: «We worked for a long time to ensure the success of this event, taking care of every aspect, from athletic preparation to safety. It was an exciting moment, which testifies to how sport can really break down every physical and mental barrier. And we will not stop here ».
The crossing of the Strait, therefore, was not only a sporting challenge, but a powerful message of resilience and hope, an example of how inclusion and participation can become an active part of the therapeutic path. An initiative that confirms the central role of sport in the mission of the IRCCS Bonino Pulejo: helping patients regaining their autonomy and their lives.