Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox will promote the Marina Romoli Onlus during the upcoming Giro d’Italia, and for the rest of the season, the team has announced. The Onlus [an Italian acronym that translates as a not-for-profit organisation for social benefit - ed] seeks to help to people under 30, who have suffered spinal cord injuries while cycling, to fund their expensive treatment, and to help fund medical research into someday finding a cure.
“The reason to believe and promote the Marina Romoli Onlus is for us really clear,” explained Bruno Reverberi, team manager of Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox. “We are fortunate to be in a privileged media position like at the Giro d’Italia and from here we want to give voice to those who, like Marina, fight every day, often in the midst of so many difficulties, to spread her message of social and future hope.
“In our Green Team project we intend to promote a safer use of the bicycle and this also goes to making people to be more respectful of cyclists, helping those who unfortunately fell victim to road accidents while cycling,” he added. “Moreover, we are the youngest team in the world between the UCI WorldTour and Pro Continental divisions and we feel even more connected to a non-profit association that appeals to people under 30, where Marina as well having the same age of our athletes and she’s her friend. A union therefore could not be better."
Marina Romoli was one of Italy’s brightest up an coming stars when she was hit by a car while training with her boyfriend Matteo Pelucchi [now with IAM Cycling - ed] on June 1st, 2010. The then 21-year-old Safi-Pasta Zara rider suffered severe facial injuries but, more seriously, had to undergo spinal surgery, and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.
Romoli has had various stages of the Giro Donne dedicated to her in recent years, along with several other races including the junior race at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, of which she was the winner of the previous edition in 2007. The riders of the Italian women’s team started the 2010 World championships with a letter of her name each on the palm of their gloves, and the victorious Giorgia Bronzini made the sign of a heart - the symbol of Romoli’s ONLUS - with her fingers as she crossed the line; the former two-time champion continues to do this every time she wins a race.
"I'm so happy that cycling is still so close to me!” Romoli said. “I thank to the Badiarni Valvole-CSF Inox pro team that is doing so much to promote my message of help, as well as the scientific research in so many, and with such a strong impact.
“I'm even happier because the team doing it with athletes that are as young as me and some of whom are my friends,” she continued. “A team that is practising a cycling that turns towards the future and is engaging itself in making that sport safer. There's a sentence in which I believe so much and I think it's the perfect synthesis between the green team and my association: if someone dreams alone, the dream remains such, but if a lot of people dream together, that's the beginning of a new reality.
“Together, I know for sure, we can create a different reality,” she added. “Together we can do it.”
The Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox team will wear the “pink heart” of Marina Romoli Onlus its Giro d’Italia jersey, and it will also promote it through various media activities.