Over 6200 km, more than a month of crossing. It is the motorcycle journey that Franco Antonello made with his autistic son Andrea and two other companions to cross India, from New Delhi to Mumbai to Calcutta, from historic cities to the more rural south.
The journey, supported by BMW Motorrad Italia in the context of #SpecialMente, the corporate social responsibility program of BMW Gruop Italia, was told by Franco and Andrea during an event organized in Milan: “We even got a tattoo”, jokes Franco Antonello who in 2005, with the aim of helping and giving support to families with autistic children, founded ‘I Bambini delle Fate’, a social enterprise which today receives the support of around 5,000 companies through constant payments, every month, and not simple donations.
With the money received, the foundation finances projects – 92 at the moment – on an ongoing basis for 18 years now. One of these is called the ‘Social Time Bank’ which brings together, two hours a week, high school students who dedicate free time to their peers with autism.
The ‘After us’ project has also recently begun, with which to donate houses to the various local associations in order to ensure a dignified and independent follow-up to autistic children once their parents, or whoever takes care of them today, will no longer be around.
Franco and Andrea made their first trip starting from the United States, from Miami to Los Angeles, arriving as far as Brazil. Then, via BMW, another five motorcycle trips between Italy, Morocco, Greece and the North Cape: “We support those families who cannot do what I do – explains Franco – in Italy there are 600,000 people who suffer from autism, one boy every 50 in newborns”.
The next trip? “Africa”, replies Andrea. “I like to say that the motorbike in itself is inclusion – concludes Alessandro Salimbeni, general manager of BMW Motorrad Italia – it is not in fact just a means of transport, but it is a lifestyle that unites us, which unites us in a large community where even very exclusive products, such as a BMW motorcycle, become a tool for inclusion”.
Source: Ansa
I am an author at Global happenings and I mostly cover automobile news. In my time working in the automotive industry, I have developed a keen interest in the latest developments and trends. My writing skills have also allowed me to share my knowledge with others through articles and blog posts.
