{:en}Welcome Gardensia!“, the new campaign dedicated to women with multiple sclerosis launched by Aism (Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, also lands at Loano.
On March 3 and 4 and then again on March 8, Women's Day, in five thousand Italian squares more than ten thousand volunteers invite people to choose (with a minimum contribution of 15 euros each) a gardenia plant or a hydrangea plant, or both, to support research and care, two sides of the same coin: commitment alongside people. The two flowers underscore the close link between women and multiple sclerosis, which affects twice as many women as men. Every day in Italy, five women are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
At Loano, the campaign will be held in Rocca Square (in case of bad weather, the campaign will be held on March 10 and 11). The initiative enjoys the patronage of the City of Loano.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable and often progressively disabling disease; one of the most severe of the central nervous system. Fifty percent of people with MS are young: they receive their diagnosis when they are still under 40 years old, at a time of life full of plans and expectations. Each year an estimated 3,400 new cases are diagnosed in Italy: 1 every 3 hours. In our country, 114,000 people are affected by multiple sclerosis. The symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis are diverse, among them also difficulty in speech, reduction of muscle strength, sensitivity, cognitive disorders, and in 85 percent of people prevails the most common symptom also defined as the worst of the disease: fatigue.
The decisive cause and cure have not yet been found so it is crucial to support research. Today, thanks to advances in scientific research, there are therapies and treatments that can slow the course of multiple sclerosis and improve the quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis. “Events such as Gardensia have over the years raised significant funds to finance research projects and enhance services for people affected by multiple sclerosis, particularly women and their families to whom this event is dedicated,” says Angela Martino, national president of AISM.
Also to support scientific research, from February 25 to March 11, you can send a text message or call the solidarity number 45567. Funds raised by the solidarity text message will go to support a scientific research project on the progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, the most severe, still orphaned by therapies.
The donation value will be 2 euros for each text message sent from Wind Tre, Tim, Vodafone, PosteMobile, Coop Voce and Tiscali cell phones. It will be 5 euros for calls from PosteMobile, Twt and Convergenze landlines and 2 and 5 euros from Tim, Wind Tre, Fastweb, Vodafone and Tiscali landlines.
There are many well-known personalities who have decided to join the campaign. With AISM's godmother Antonella Ferrari, the following are supporting Gardensia: Chiara Francini, Paola Marella, Gaia Tortora, Francesca Romana Barberini, Marisa Passera, Alice Paba, Massimiliano Rosolino, Gianluca Zambrotta and Marino Bartoletti.
#Gardensia enjoys the support of Rai - Social Responsibility: from March 5 to 11, the campaign will be promoted on the main entertainment and information containers of Rai networks and on the website www.rai.it. La7, Sky and Mediafriends will also support the initiative by giving visibility to the campaign spot. Among the supporters of #Gardensia are also many local broadcasters, national circuits and national and local radio stations. The initiative has also received key support from phone companies Wind Tre, Tim, Vodafone, Coop Voce, Convergenze, Tiscali, Twt, PosteMobile and Fastweb.
#Gardensia has the sponsorship of the Fondazione Pubblicità Progresso. Aism thanks Rattiflora, Urca TV and the Teatro Verdi in Florence. Gardensia is part of Aism's 50th anniversary celebration campaign #SMove.{:}
