One of the most famous hill climbs in Italy was chosen to send a message: expand the genetic screening of newborns already free in Puglia to the whole country
Motor sports as a pulpit from which to launch social messages, a hillclimb born 80 years ago to ask for the extension of a regional law that came into force two years ago. This is what happened during the 67th Selva di Fasano Cupin which a Volkswagen Lupo from the Epta Motorsport team also participated with a decidedly special livery: on the bonnet and on the sides it had the writing “Puglia Genome for all the children of Italy“.
APULIA GENOME
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Genoma Puglia is a program of genetic screening of newbornswhich allows the identification at birth of 597 diseases or disease conditions that can be cured or, at least, managed with adequate care if there is an early diagnosis. A drop of blood taken from the child’s heel is enough to analyze further 400 geniuses looking for possible genetic predispositions to diseases. The program, established with Regional Law n° 3 of 30 March 2023, has been active in all obstetrics and gynecology departments in Puglia since June 2024, where a drop of blood is taken from all newborns (subject to parental consent). The test is performed by the Medical Genetics laboratory of the “Di Venere” Hospital in Bari and, obviously, has a cost. This cost is paid, thanks to the Genome Puglia program, by the Puglia Region. To date, thanks to Genoma Puglia, the DNA of more than one have been analysed 27 thousand childrenwith approx 500 early diagnoses carried out. Now the regional councilor, as well as former regional councilor, Fabiano Amati is carrying out a battle to ensure that this program is extended to the whole of Italy, paid for by the National Health Service.
SELVA FASANO CUP
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The stage chosen to launch this message is a prestigious competition: the Coppa selva di Fasano, better known as Fasano-Selva time trialwhich this year is the second event of the Italian Super Climb Championship and is also valid for the Mountain Speed Tricolore. Now in its sixty-seventh edition (but the first was 80 years ago), this year the Fasano-Selva saw the participation of 228 drivers registered in the main race, 13 participants in the VIP trophy, 23 vintage cars and supercars, for a total of 264 cars different, including Lupo di Genoma Puglia.
