News from AIP - Italy

By Giorgio Filippini, AIP Board Member and editor

On Saturday 21 March 2009 at the sport centre of Montichiari near Brescia a football match “La Partita del Sole” (the match of the sun) was organised to improve awareness on PIDS and fundraise for AIP.

Notwithstanding the forecast of rain and cold the sky was clear and the temperature mild. This event was not held for the last three years and the will to continue was rediscovered thanks to the encouragement of new friends. I refer in particular to the Police Force of Brescia, from which the spark started.

But as so often happens behind many of these festive events there lurks a sad story. It is Michela’s story, 12 years old, daughter of two police officers, who died from a primary immunodeficiency. The emptiness left by Michela is big - huge. Her parents and all those who have lived the same sad experience know it too well.

As always there are relatives, friends and colleagues who try not to leave alone those who remain and help them overcome the sad time and solidarity springs spontaneously, with friends who know friends and friends’ of friends...

With their help, we were able to organize a quadrangular football match with four teams: a group of bikers “Rombo di Tuono”, a nationally famous music band “I Nomadi”, the Police Force of Brescia and of course AIP with its patients and doctors.

All very well until the unfortunate incident, following a trivial fall, after a few minutes of play our Professor Plebani had to leave the field to have medical treatment. But, as they say, "the show must go on", and between one match and another, a sandwich and a glass of wine, we arrived at the end of the tournament. The Police Force won the cup and AIP got the 4th. place.

The day ended with the voices of the choir “Le Piccole voci di Valeria”. This choir, composed of 75 young singers, was created a few years ago by Michele Del Zotti, AIP Chair, in memory of his daughter Valeria who loved to sing and was a singer in their local choir.

Special thanks go to all AIP friends who helped with the organisation of this event, to the Police Force of Brescia, to Rombo di Fuoco, to I Nomadi and to the journalist who helped us in the advertising campaign and commented on the games and, of course, to the many people who attended. To Professor Plebani our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery and our prayers to Michela and Valeria, always in our thoughts.