Bologna –
Alice Leccioli, 22, has taken an extraordinary step in her life, literally. Suffering from paralysis at birth that forced her into a wheelchair, Alice can now walk thanks to the use of an exoskeleton, an innovative device that allows her to regain mobility in situations of severe motor disability.
Thanks to the efforts and care of Bellaria Hospital staff and Dr. Giada Lullini, and thanks also to her father Mirco Leccioli, Alice was able to experience this advanced technology. “The emotion I feel is of pure happiness,” the girl says, ”because in this way I was able to stand and move like everyone else. Supporting her every step of the way is always her father, a key figure in this journey of rebirth.
This extraordinary achievement is not only a personal story, but represents concrete hope for many other people. The Bellaria Research Center, a new center of excellence for the study and treatment of neurological diseases, is opening new avenues in the treatment of diseases that are a major cause of disability. The exoskeleton is just one of the innovative technologies made available by the center, which is committed to researching personalized therapies, integrating technology with human assistance to significantly improve patients’ quality of life.
Thanks to the synergy and support of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, all fans attending the EuroLEague game, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, will have the opportunity to make a contribution to purchase an exoskeleton that will go to another patient who, like Alice, will be able to walk again, and they will be able to contribute to the Bellaria Research Center.
“Neurological disease outcomes are the number one cause of disability worldwide with major repercussions for patients and their families. The Bellaria Research Center will be a hub dedicated to promote translational research, based on the characteristics and needs of each individual patient, and offer rehabilitation opportunities to patients with neurological disease outcomes,” says Giada Lullini, Medical Director – Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of Neurological Sciences Bologna.
“The Bellaria Research Center will be a hub dedicated to promoting translational research, based on the characteristics and needs of each individual patient, and offering rehabilitation opportunities to those facing difficulties related to neurological diseases. Work to upgrade this state-of-the-art facility has already begun, propelling Bologna among the leading cities in medical innovation. To complete the work, however, we need the help of everyone-institutions, businesses, important entities in the world of sports such as Virtus, and citizens,” says Daniele Ravaglia, president of the Neurological Sciences Research Foundation. We are grateful to Virtus for the important opportunity that brings us closer to the completion of the Bellaria Research Center work.”
