Over 40 bags of blood collected in just one morning. Once again this year, the 9th Wing opened its doors to the “Pascale” Hospital Foundation of Naples, hosting it at the Base's healthcare facilities where a fully-fledged Transfusion Centre was set up. The Base's personnel, both military and civilian, responded positively once again to the solidarity initiative by going voluntarily to the Wing's infirmary to make their donations. The “Fondazione Pascale” National Cancer Institute, with which the 9th Wing has collaborated for several years, is the largest scientific institute for research and healthcare in the field of oncology in Southern Italy and is the reference centre for the national and regional oncological network. At the end of the day, the expert medical team from the Neapolitan hospital, consisting of medical directors Annamaria Diodato and Vincenzo Iervolino, and nurses Assunta Coppola and Carmela Savino, transported 43 bags of blood, each containing 430 ml, to the Transfusion Centre.“It is an immense pleasure to have consolidated this bond that we have had for years now with the ’CUORE“ association of the Pascale hospital” – said Colonel Maurizio Cocci, Commander of the 9th Wing –“indeed, our goal is to be able to do our bit to help and save as many human lives as possible not only through our everyday work, but also through these important solidarity initiatives”. In addition to their standard duties, the personnel of the Wing have always carried out humanitarian tasks to assist the community, and blood donation is another way to support anyone in difficult circumstances. Furthermore, various solidarity initiatives take place at the Campanian base. Among others, these include the traditional “Solidarity Day in favour of the Groups of the U.A.L.S.I. Foundation” (Union of Friends of Lourdes and Italian Shrines), with 400 differently abled people arriving from all over southern Italy, and the usual “Happiness Day” promoted to support the orphans of local family homes.
