Surfing and sailing against disabilities and prejudices. Activities at sea for disabled people organized by the Area 51 association, together with the Marmo Foundation, Aias-Italian Spastic Assistance Association and the Municipality of Carrara are back: surfing and SUP lessons, and sailing boat excursions for physically and intellectually disabled people. The project, which features the actor and surfer Sergio Muniz as testimonial, is financed by the Marmo Foundation as part of the “2024 Call for Grants” issued by the institution.
The new season was presented this morning at the Nautical Club of Marina di Carrara in the presence of Enrico Giannotti, president of Area 51, Stefania Corsini, coordinator of the Marmo Foundation, Carlandrea Simonelli, president of the Nautical Club of Marina di Carrara and two classes of the Fiorillo Nautical Institute .
The initiative, now in its tenth year, provides a series of opportunities for disabled people of different age groups (from adolescents to adults) identified in consultation with the local Aias. The instructors of the Area 51 association will organize sailing excursions departing from the nautical club in Marina di Carrara and surfing and SUP lessons at the Mistral beach in Carrara. The courses are activated every week (once or twice, depending on demand), from the end of May to July, and then again in September and October. The activities are supported by the help of volunteers.
“Activities at sea are fun and educational, they promote people’s physical and mental well-being, putting everyone on the same level” explains Giannotti. The sailing trips will also be open to children belonging to families in financial difficulty from the Fiorillo Nautical Institute.
The outings will begin in May, starting with those planned in collaboration with the Nautical Institute of Marina di Carrara and then continuing with those in agreement with Aias for disabled young people.
They will take place on board a new boat, an Alpa 42 recently purchased by Giannotti for Area 51: a comfortable and safe 1975 hull. Giannotti also announced his next project, for autumn 2025. “I will travel around the world with the new boat and in every country I go to I will stop to bring disabled kids on board.”
“This year too we support the Area 51 projects, which allow disabled children to do recreational and educational activities, to discover the beauty of the sea and to overcome their limits, with a smile” say the Marmo Foundation. “We are happy to contribute to the growth of this project and to provide moments of leisure to many families.”
Source: Press Office
Tags: Surfing sailing pact disabilities scheduled outings Carrara years
