Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October Umberto Veronesi Foundation, scientific partner of the Festival, returns to squares all over Italy with the third edition of "Tomato. Good for you, good for research", an initiative designed to raise funds to finance research and care in the pediatric sector, in order to ensure the best possible treatment for children with cancer and raise their expectations of recovery.
The proceeds from the fundraising will allow to finance treatment on leukemia, in particular a protocol for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) which represents 75% of childhood leukemia cases and in Italy affects about 350-400 children every year, with a peak between 2 and 5 years of age.
Supporting this project is essential, because allows children and young people sick of receive immediate and highly effective care, thanks to cutting-edge therapies. In fact, although the long-term survival rate has gone from less than 10% in the early 60s to the current 80% -90%, recent studies show that it is very difficult to improve these results further by intensifying chemotherapy alone. It is therefore necessary to develop new combinations of first-line treatments, also using more targeted drugs and non-chemotherapy treatments, according to the logic of precision medicine, to get as close as possible to treating all the children with ALL.
The contribution of the volunteers of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, which for a whole weekend will be engaged in the squares to support scientific research aimed at finding a cure for the oncohematological diseases of children. It will be them, with a minimum donation of 10 euros, to be distributed in 250 Italian squares a pack with three cans of tomatoes, in the peeled, pulp and cherry tomatoes versions: an initiative made possible thanks to the precious collaboration and support of ANICAV (National Association of Vegetable Food Preserves) e Ricrea (National Consortium for Recycling and Recovery of Steel Packaging). Tomato has always been a fundamental ingredient in the Mediterranean diet; it is a fruit with low sugar, rich in fiber, vitamins C and E and mineral salts, such as potassium and phosphorus. Contains bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, powerful antioxidants, and carotenoids including lycopene, studied as an adjuvant in strengthening the immune system and in the prevention of some types of cancer. The steel packaging helps to ensure the preservation of the nutritional and organoleptic characteristics of the product.
Every year in Italy about 1.400 children get cancer aged between 0 and 14 years and about 800 teenagers between 15 and 19 years. Thanks to the enormous progress made by pediatric oncology and scientific research, today 70% of these childhood cancers are cured, with peaks of 80-90% in the case of leukemia and lymphomas. Despite this, neoplasms still represent the first cause of death from illness in children, and that's why Umberto Veronesi Foundation has decided to be actively involved in giving more hope to young cancer patients and their families.
“During the last edition of this initiative we raised almost 300.000 euros thanks to the great sensitivity shown by those who decided to be at our side: donors, volunteers, ANICAV and Ricrea, precious and indispensable partners of this project. Never before has the importance of scientific research been understood and this year we want to do even more to finance scientific research of the highest profile and continue to help the more than 2.000 children who fall ill with cancer every year "- explains Monica Ramaioli, General Manager of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation.
"After the success of the previous editions, even in this year so difficult and complicated for our country, we are honored to be able to support research on pediatric oncology with our tomato, a very important element of Italian cuisine and rich in beneficial substances for health. .”- declares the President of ANICAV, Antonio Ferraioli.
"We have chosen to confirm our commitment to this initiative, even more so in a period in which it is important to do everything possible for those who need it most - comments Dominic Rinaldini, President of RICREA -. Once again, the steel packaging that preserves the tomato is confirmed as good not only for the environment, because once used they are easy to differentiate and are recycled 100% indefinitely, but also to support scientific research alongside the Foundation Umberto Veronesi. "
For more info and to know the complete and updated list of Italian squares, visit the website www.fondazioneveronesi.it
