“Treat them well!”. It is the heartfelt appeal launched by Davide Mulfari, a computer engineer of the University of Messina, who in recent days has undergone a theft that goes far beyond the subtraction of a simple vehicle. On Wednesday 23 April, in fact, in a central street in the city, the only car in his family was stolen: a white Fiat 500l, Ga388px plaque.
But what makes the theft particularly serious is the fact that the red wheelchair of Davide’s Rotelle was also located inside the trunk, an essential tool for its mobility and independence.
Davide himself denounced the incident publicly, with a post on Facebook who immediately collected numerous shares and messages of solidarity: “Two days ago in a central street of #Messina our only car was stolen, a white fiat500l. In the trunk there was also my red wheelchair, faithful life partner, places, events for me. Treat them well!”. Words that strike, not only for the sadness of the gesture suffered, but also for the dignity and humanity with which Davide has chosen to tell his story.
The wheelchair, often seen only as an object, is for him an extension of his freedom, of his possibility of moving. In a city where there are still many architectural barriers, losing a means of adapted transport and a personal wheelchair means being private not only of one’s autonomy, but also of the possibility of living everyday life.
On social networks, a solidarity tam tam has turned on: citizens, associations, acquaintances and strangers are sharing the news in an attempt to find at least the wheelchair, in the hope that it can be returned, even anonymously.