The 125th edition of Fieracavalli is coming to an end, and today the ARTè Gala D’Oro featured the initiative Ri.Abilitiamoci by Progetto Islander Onlus.
Vanni Oddera surprised the audience by entering the ring of Pavilion 8 on his motorcycle with an exceptional passenger, Riccardo, one of the boys from the mototherapy sessions. For years, Vanni has been organizing freestyle sessions where children and teens in the hospital not only can watch his acrobatic stunts but also ride on motorcycles with professionals, allowing them to escape – for a few minutes – from the routine of illness.
Two years ago, after learning about the reality of Progetto Islander and Ri.Abilitiamoci, he decided to bring this extraordinary initiative to the Pediatric Hospital G. Gaslini. The reason lies in the explanation given by Nicole Berlusconi – president of Progetto Islander – and Dr. Antonella Artuso, who made the audience understand how connecting fragile people with animals that have had a difficult past – through interventions conducted by highly specialized individuals – can build a strong bond of empathy, creating a path of “mutual rehabilitation.” During the evening, Dr. Artuso also announced that, for the next year, Ri.Abilitiamoci will also reach the pediatric oncology department of Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin and Casa UGI.
To demonstrate strong support for all the efforts towards the well-being of horses – for which he has always been alongside Fieracavalli – Veronafiere President Federico Bricolo presented Progetto Islander with the Fieracavalli Horse Friendship Cares award.
Special guest of the Gala was also Santi Serracamps, who not only trains his horses gently, managing – together with them – to create an exciting show based on the extraordinary relationship that can be formed with these animals but also often collaborates with Progetto Islander for the most difficult cases, where the horse needs to regain trust in the relationship with humans. He, and especially his mare Nika, received the Fieracavalli Career Rosette.
