Proceeds from the fourth annual Valentino Melis Memorial, the Vespa and Fiat 500 rally held in Trexenta, will be donated to cancer patients. The initiative, dedicated to the young entrepreneur from Selegas, who passed away prematurely a few years ago, was promoted by the Melis family in collaboration with the municipal administration and the Selegas Pro Loco tourist association. "We raised €11,450 to purchase wheelchairs and walkers for the Cagliari Oncology Hospital," says Riccardo Melis, brother of the late Valentino.
This year's event raised a truly significant amount of money, thanks to the overwhelming turnout. "It's wonderful to see how the event in honor of Vale manages to surpass itself every year," emphasizes Mayor Alessio Piras. Last year, €7,500 was raised: €3,750 of this, through the involvement of the Salute Donna e Salute Uomo associations, funded the purchase of a portable ultrasound probe, along with supplies for oncology and hematology patients undergoing treatment that aren't provided free of charge by the national health system. The remaining €3,750, through the Giardini di Lu association, were donated to the Veronesi Foundation to fund a scholarship for a doctor specializing in oncology.
The memorial began with a Holy Mass in memory of all the young deceased, celebrated in the town cemetery. After an artistic performance by Manu Invisible, the solidarity procession of vintage vehicles crossed the entire Trexenta region to stop at Nuraghe Piscu. The brief stop was enlivened by an aperitif offered by the Municipality and the Suelli Tourist Board. Lunch, featuring a traditional Sardinian menu (malloreddus alla campidanese and grilled meat), was held in Selegas in the shade of the gazebos, where a musical performance continued until late into the evening. The participation of residents and neighboring towns was extraordinary: the Valentino Melis memorial has become an unmissable event for enthusiasts of Fiat 500s and their historical derivatives, as well as Piaggio Vespas.