Emirates and AGEOP Ricerca Support Young Cancer Patients in Bologna
Emirates has partnered with AGEOP Ricerca to bring moments of comfort to young cancer patients in Bologna. As part of this initiative, 200 backpacks and activity books have been donated to children receiving treatment at the Pediatric Haematology-Oncology Department of IRCCS Policlinico di Sant’Orsola.
AGEOP Ricerca is an independent association that has supported children with cancer and their families since 1982. Patients from across Italy and abroad come to the centre to access therapies not always available in their hometowns. This collaboration reflects Emirates’ focus on connecting with communities and supporting meaningful initiatives in the destinations it serves.
Emirates’ children’s backpacks, usually distributed on board to young passengers, now serve a new purpose — offering encouragement, familiarity, and a sense of normalcy to children during treatment.
Flavio Ghiringhelli, Emirates’ Country Manager in Italy, said: “We’ve sought a project that allows us to support the local community in a meaningful way. We are glad this initiative takes place in Bologna, where we mark ten years since our first flight to the city. It’s a way of showing the children and their families that they are not alone — that they are part of a wider community that cares.”
Francesca Testoni, General Director of AGEOP Ricerca, said: “Each backpack represents more than an object: it is a thought, a kind gesture, and a reminder of attention from those outside the hospital. Receiving these during the summer is especially important, as this is a time when support is often less visible. We are grateful to Emirates for helping us continue our programmes of care.”
The donation aims to bring small moments of joy into hospital routines, particularly in the summer months when social connections can feel more limited. It reflects Emirates’ approach of supporting communities not only through its network but also through actions of care and solidarity.
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