We met Massimilano Gibellini to know the story of his association, Progetto Erika F.T.C. (which stands for \u201cFuck the Cancer\u201d), which Raccortubi decided to support with a donation in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u201cProgetto Erika F.T.C. was born to revive, in solidarity and help, the love that our daughter has given us.<\/em><\/p>\n It all started in 2016: a few weeks after Erika left us, I was contacted by some supporters of the Varese Football Club\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Massimiliano works in the Security Department at the Franco Ossola stadium and discovers he is surrounded by friends, who do not hesitate to come forward and concretely support him in the darkest moment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world of sport has been very close to me. Having the support of friends means a lot. I feel lucky”.<\/em><\/p>\n This is how, in May of that year, the first “Fuck the cancer<\/strong>” event was organized with the Ultras of the football team: an event that has now become a consolidated format, which offers activities for children, concerts, and the popular auction of the t-shirts of both Italian and international football champions. Fuck the Cancer is organized in collaboration with the Giacomo Ascoli Foundation (another incredible story) and involves many organizations, volunteers, sponsors and different realities… all united for Erika, all united to achieve a great goal.<\/p>\n The Giacomo Ascoli Foundation<\/a>, by request of the Gibellini family, has opened a fund dedicated to Erika, which collects all the donations received in her memory and the proceeds of the event.<\/p>\n The territory has responded well and, since the first edition, around 200.000 euros have been raised, destined for the construction of 3 sterile rooms at the Pediatric Oncohematology Unit at the Del Ponte Hospital in Varese.<\/p>\n Our donation will help set up the sterile rooms: once built, in fact, they need to be furnished and equipped with toys, because<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2012 Erika was 12 years old and, upon returning from vacation, began to experience shortness of breath and a certain stiffness of the breast tissues. Pediatricians and doctors underestimate the situation, referring it to physiological growth stages and prescribe antibiotics; instead, it is breast cancer.<\/p>\n She begins a long process of visits and treatments (the few available) and, although it seems that Erika has recovered, the disease returns after a few months.<\/p>\n They are difficult months and years, in which, however, Erika fights with dignity and maturity: “she never complained, until the very end. Even in her pain, she was the first to give herself\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Massimiliano’s strength, as he talks to us, is a strength that does not belong to earth and, from what he tells us, we can easily understand that Erika is a true warrior.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn’t want to wear a wig, she said, ‘let them look at me, I have no problems. Should I be ashamed because I have no hair?\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Instead of the wig, she tattooed “Stay strong” on her head.<\/p>\n She draws a bow and gets it tattooed on her arm, with the inscription “Fuck the cancer” in the center, which has now become the logo of the Association and which we see again today, printed on her father’s neck. On the other arm, her best friend Alice gets a tattoo of Anais Nin’s phrase \u201cYou can’t save people, you can only love them\u201d, which is now also printed on the sweatshirts of the Association.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.raccortubi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Fuck-the-cancer-Raccortubi.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\nThe story of the Association<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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“the thing that a child housed in those wards needs most of all is to be treated “as if nothing had happened”<\/em>, not to be afraid, not to feel ill, but to be able to be what he is: a child, with all the rights of children.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nErika\u2019s story<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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