Fans of the Italian National Team, both big and small, who are recovering at the Bambino Gesù Hospital, really do have something to look forward to over the coming days: today, 10 October, the Azzurri arrive on a visit to the facility in Janiculum. Marking 150 years of the hospital, the Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) has teamed up with the Hospital with a series of initiatives aimed at supporting the creation of the Institution for Tumours and Transplants. At the heart of the initiatives is the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying match of Italy vs Greece, scheduled for 12 October at Roma’s Stadio Olimpico. From tomorrow they will join up with the group from the National Team, along with Gianluca Vialli, ambassador for Volunteers in Rome EURO 2020.

TODAY IN JANICULUM

The Azzurri, who have been training in Coverciano, will arrive at the Bambino Gesù Hospital this afternoon, having already been visited at Coverciano in June by a group of young patients .

The whole squad will split up so as to meet the biggest possible number of children and young people staying in the hospital, and they will visit the different departments in the Hospital: from A&E to the intensive care, from neonatology to paediatrics, from cardiology to oncology. Accompanying the National Team, lead by Coach Roberto Mancini and FICG President Gabriele Gravina, will be the President of the Paediatric Hospital in the Holy See, Mariella Enoc.

Before the tour of the departments the team will receive some gifts; a ball signed by the recovering children and two training bibs decorated with drawings from the playroom. These bibs will be worn by the Azzurri during the warm-up before Italy vs Greece.

AT THE OLIMPICO ON SATURDAY FOR ITALY VS GREECE

On the evening of the match, Saturday 12 October, the fantastic Bambino Gesù community will be the guests of FIGC at the Stadio Olimpico. Between the patients, relatives, employees and volunteers, there will be more than 5000 in the stands to support the National Team in this important match for European qualification.

For Italy vs Greece, the Football Federation has put 20 VIP passes up for grabs on the Charity Stars website (https://www.charitystars.com/figc) with which you can really experience the match and really get involved. You will have a walkabout in Roma’s Stadio Olimpico, with a guided tour which will let you discover the Media Area, the Media Working Area and the Mixed Zone. A few hours before kick-off, there will be chance to go into the dressing rooms and walk the same route the players will, out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. The tour will conclude in the hospitality area, to have dinner at “Casa Azzurri”.

The proceeds of the collection will be given to the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital as a part of their project to create the Institute of Tumours and Transplants. After that there will be the chance to get your hands on a few signed shirts signed by the Azzurri players. FIGC will support the proceeds with its own contribution.

THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ‘EVERY STORY DESERVES A HAPPY ENDING'

It will be possible to donate to the fundraiser during the match via the number 45535, which will give a €2 donation via text and €10/15 via landline thanks to Tim, Vodafone, Wind 3, PosteMobile, iliad, Coopvoce, Tiscali, TWT, Convergenze and Fastweb.

The match, which will be shown on Rai 1, will also allow the vast number of fans of the National team to also show their solidarity to the cause and support the iniative.

The fundraising campaign, ‘Each story deserves a happy ending’ has already been up and running in the past few months through the collaboration with Lorenzo Jovanotti, who has given his voice and his song “Oh Vita!” to the TV and radio advertisements, and has committed to helping the realisation of the Institute for Tumours and Transplants. The project has the goal of promoting research into cures for tumours, transplants and providing support for families.

The fundraising campaign will conclude with the event ‘An evening of stars for the Bambino Gesù’, a charity show coming from the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican. The show will take place on 20 November and will be hosted by TV presenter Amadeus. Alongside stars from the music and show business world, there will also be representatives from the National Team and from the world of football.