Tomorrow, July 2nd, the "Sailing for Hope" project starts: a four-day cruise in which five patients will participate, four minors and one adult, suffering from complex diseases, accompanied by a skipper doctor and an assistant skipper. The initiative was born from the collaboration between the Brotzu complex diseases and pediatric nephurology structure, directed by Giuseppe Masnata, and the Spina bifida association of Sardinia, chaired by Mario Orgiana.
The project, sponsored by the presidency of Unicef Italy, was born with the aim of improving the psychological well-being of young participants through contact with nature and the experience of the sea, promoting social inclusion and offering them a group experience positive.
The vessel that will host them is a 12 meter sailing vessel with an auxiliary engine (Bavaria 38 “Asibiri3”), equipped with modern navigation, communication and safety systems. They will be four important days for the young sailors who, through navigation and life on board, will live an experience of sharing and carefreeness.
Thanks to the collaboration with the Director of the Pervasive Disorders Center, Marinella Carta, the impact that navigation will have on the self-esteem and well-being of the children will be evaluated through validated questionnaires administered before and after the experience.
The journey represents an opportunity to test yourself: following the rules on board and learning to manage yourself belongs to the culture of the sea and navigation and embraces, more generally, education, training, rehabilitation, social inclusion and therapy.
«For four days a sailing boat will take 5 kids around the coasts of Sardinia, united not only by adolescence, but also by the fact that they are all suffering from complex illnesses», comments Brotzu Director Agnese Foddis, «they will learn the rudiments of navigation, how to prepare a meal on board, how to keep the cabin tidy and how to take medicine yourself. It will be a unique experience, which will arouse extraordinary emotions in the young patients, a moment of cultural and emotional growth for all of them."
