The cycling relay of Italian Red Cross volunteers is expected to take turns with the volunteers of the Ferrara Committee on Tuesday 18 June at around 3pm in Piazza Trento Trieste in Ferrara.
The initiative started from Milan on Saturday 15 June, the date of foundation of the Italian Red Cross, to arrive in Solferino on 22 June, the date on which the traditional torchlight procession of the Red Cross will be held which every year involves volunteers from all over the world .
“This non-competitive cycling relay – explains the Ferrara committee – is part of the events organized to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Red Cross and will touch the oldest CRI Committees to symbolically embrace all the CRI volunteers of Italy and to celebrate their humanitarian commitment.
After arrival, there will be a short speech by the president of the Italian Red Cross Committee of Ferrara Elisa Zaghi and the authorities and the passing of the flag to the group which will leave the following day.
The CRI relay runners, volunteers from the Committees involved, the president of the Province of Ferrara Gianni Michele Padovani will be present and confirmation is awaited from the representatives of the Municipality of Ferrara.
Each stage of the journey will ideally be dedicated to one of the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Volunteerism, Unity and Universality.
Participants will cross 3 regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto) to unite 21 historic Committees of the Italian Red Cross. In addition to Milan and Solferino: Bergamo, Brescia, Busto Arsizio, Castiglione delle Stiviere, Como, Crema, Cremona, Ferrara, Gallarate, Mantua, Monza, Lecco, Lodi, Padua, Pavia, Reggio Emilia, Sondrio, Varese, Verona.
The initiative boasts the patronage of the Italian Cycling Federation and will involve CRI volunteers and two-wheel enthusiasts from the CRI committees involved who will join together in a 1,000 kilometer journey to bring a symbolic era of the Red Cross from Milan, the city where Cesare Castiglioni gave life at the Italian Red Cross, in Solferino, on the sites of the famous battle that inspired the idea of the Red Cross in Henry Dunant.
The choice of cycling, the endurance sport par excellence, is intended to be a concrete tribute to the perseverance and dedication that have characterized the history of the Red Cross and the altruistic spirit of the volunteers.
“This relay represents not only a journey through our history, but also a journey into the values and principles that form the heart of the Red Cross. An opportunity to remember and celebrate the tireless commitment of our Volunteers”, says Rosario Valastro, president of the Italian Red Cross.
The route will develop along two different routes, for the duration of seven stages, with a last common stage in the final stretch, from Brescia to Solferino which will involve the participants of the caravan and the volunteers of the Italian Red Cross in a symbolic embrace of solidarity.
