The 2nd Stormo and the Tricolour Arrows together in the 2018 solidarity run: The twentieth 24-hour marathon organized by the Udine Committee “Staffette Telethon” took off in the early afternoon of Saturday, December 1st, in the streets of the center of the Friuli capital. As a tradition, this year a large contingent of the Air Force also participated in the event, with three teams of relay runners made up of personnel from the 2nd Stormo and the 313th Group of Acrobatic Training and their families.
In addition to the runners, the men and women in blue supported the organization by guarding some of the crossing points along the course. In fact, the limit of 550 teams set by the organizers as the maximum number to ensure the proper safety standards for the event prevented the two Friuli departments from being able to set up additional teams in addition to the three already registered.
As a testament to the strong bond that has existed for several years between the 2nd Flight and the 313th Acrobatic Group at the Telethon Committee in promoting charitable initiatives in support of research into rare diseases (just think that for two times in recent years, the summer edition of the charity relay has been held right inside the military airport of Rivolto (UD), the headquarters of the two Aeronautical Entities), the opening of the event was attended by the acrobatic formation of the Tricolour Arrows and the Commander of the 2nd Flight, Colonel Andrea Amadori.
The event has recorded a constant growth in fundraising over the years; in the 2017 edition the record figure was 220,000 euros, which was then entirely donated to researchers working to combat a rare genetic metabolic disorder affecting muscles such as the heart called “Pompe disease”. The record of 550 teams that took part last Saturday therefore gives cause for hope that a still greater amount of funds will be raised. The 2nd Stormtrooper Wing and the 313th Acrobatic Training Group “Frecce Tricolori” depend on the Air Force Air Force Command for the purpose of combat forces, headquartered in Milan.
In addition to providing daily support for the activities of the National Acrobatics Patrol, the 2nd Wing is the operational unit designated as the missile center of the Armed Forces, responsible for the training and operational readiness of the personnel and equipment of the “Spada” missile batteries of the Air Force.
The Tricolour Frecce are the Air Force Division entrusted with the task of representing the values, competencies and ability to work as a team of the entire Armed Forces.
