Solidarity continues in the Italian Air Force Centenary year. Funds and small toys donated to the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome.
On the morning of Wednesday 5 April, a delegation from Experimental Flight Department (RSV), one of the units reporting to the Air and Space Experimentation Air Division (DASAS) of Pratica di Mare, visited’Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital for the presentation of a symbolic cheque as evidence of fundraising by the Department staff in aid of the Rome hospital.
In the year of Centenary of the Italian Air Force and with the Easter holidays just around the corner, the delegation, consisting of the Commander of the Department, Colonel Fabio De Michele, two pilots, an engineer and four specialists, as has been customary in recent years, brought an “aeronautical” smile to the young hospitalised patients.
The Department's representatives were welcomed by Doctor Lucia Celesti, Head of the Public Relations Office, by Dr Alessandra Querciati and that Sister Luisa, to whom the Commander of the R.S.V. presented the symbolic cheque bearing the amount raised from donations of personnel of the Department to be assigned to the Roman Province “Daughters of Charity”, for the Mothers in Difficulty project“. Sister Luisa, after thanking the Commander and all the R.S.V., announced that the donated sum will be used to support the accommodation expenses of the families of young patients from all over Italy and abroad who require long hospital stays.
The RSV delegation also visited the Urology and Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments, meeting young patients of various age groups. For the children, it was a moment of distraction from their hospital routine and an opportunity to satisfy their great curiosity. In fact, countless questions were asked of the RSV pilots and technicians, who were delighted to share the wonder of flight.
The distribution of small gifts aroused great emotion among the children, who in turn gave the soldiers their priceless smiles full of wonder.
The visit ended at the hospital playroom, where the RSV delegation donated board games, puzzles, colouring books and pencils to offer young patients a simple way to pass the time by playing and expressing their creativity.
