The evening of Saturday 13 April at Rozzi theatre of Siena, in the name of solidarity and sport, offered an intense and engaging moment of emotion. The event “Let’s team up against cancer – The great sports celebration” saw eleven Siena sports clubs come together, all gathered for a common goal: to support the Lilt, the Italian League for the fight against cancer. Among the undisputed protagonists of the event, Antonietta Mollica, renamed Molly by friends, who was able to move with her story of courage and resilience. From manager of the MPS Bank to victim of a devastating stroke at just 34 years old, the woman experienced a drama that forced her into a long period of immobilization. Yet, like a phoenix rising from her ashes, Molly didn’t give up. Thanks to the help of Sandro Bencardino, former athletic trainer of Siena and Mens Sana and now at Reggio Emilia basketball in Serie A, has found the strength to row against the current. He started pedaling his red bicycle again, skiing and taking his first horseback rides. Her love of sport and unmatched tenacity helped her overcome his battle. But that is not all. Molly, a woman of a thousand resources, has decided to share her experience through theatrical art. She wrote and starred in a show called “Icarus”, in which she tells her story about herself by acting and dancing on stage. A message of hope and resilience that touched the hearts of everyone present. Just a year ago, however, Molly found herself facing another obstacle: a bad cancer. But she, tenacious and resourceful who never gives up, decided to fight again. This time, her challenge was to become an inclusive model. And so it was: last Saturday she paraded on the catwalk of the Rozzi theatre, accompanied by Teo De Bonis.
And Teo himself, thinking back to that moment, spoke with great suggestion of having felt a thrill of emotion as he held out his arm to her, while the whole theater applauded her. Molly’s energy, courage and smile infected those present, making the evening an unforgettable event. A story that is certainly a great example for all of us: no matter how tough the battle, with willpower and the help of sport, you can always find the positive energy to get up and move forward.
