FCA Autonomy and the Gaslini Hospital join forces for the "Maremoto" project

The first #event in the "Maremoto" project, a series of days of fun and thrills for child in-patients at the Gaslini Hospital in Genoa (and their parents), was held yesterday on the beach of the Mare Hotel in Savona, with the aim of giving the young patients a seaside motoring experience to remember.

The brainchild of freestyle champion Vanni Oddera, and run with the aid of the Mare Hotel and Gaslini Hospital, the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles #autonomy project and the #jeep brand, "Maremoto" consists of two separate parts. The first, organised in partnership with the Spinal Unit of the Santa Corona Hospital at Pietra Ligure, is a test-drive specifically for disabled people: participants were able to try out the #jeep vehicles made available by #autonomy in off-road road, in challenging but highly enjoyable conditions. The second part, specifically for the young patients from the Gaslini, gave them the thrilling opportunity to ride in a #jeep driven by a professional driver. Overall, about 40 young patients from the Genoa hospital were able to leave the wards and enjoy a special day of leisure activities.

The ideal of motor-therapy originated by freestyler Vanni Oddera aims to show that disabled people are still able to enjoy extreme experiences, such as riding a scrambling bike or travelling off-road in a #jeep, in a day's activities when everyone can be "equal" and have fun together.

This same philosophy underlies the #autonomy project (www.fcaautonomy.com) run by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles - closely involved in mobility for the disabled for more than twenty years - which jumped at the chance to take part in the project. #autonomy is the programme designed to provide answers to the needs of customers with reduced motor, sensory or cognitive abilities (and to their caregivers) to help them use cars and secure their freedom of movement.

Jeep was also delighted to support "Maremoto", since it is keen to draw the attention of public opinion to the benefits of an accessible society by encouraging the organisation of events and activities of this kind.

For each different disability, and mobility need, there is #autonomy, with its full range of cars or commercial vehicles from the #fca Group brands with specific, tailored promotional offers: Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, #jeep and Fiat Professional. Furthermore, #autonomy brings a number of services that provide practical help for any problem linked to driving a car adapted to the possibilities of disabled drivers. At any of the 19 mobility centres scattered around Italy (Ancona, Bolzano, Budrio, Catania, Cerignola, Cuneo, Florence, Latina, Milan, Padua, Pietra Ligure, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Rome, Salerno, Terni, Turin, Treviso and Udine), #autonomy customers can test their motor abilities with special simulators, they can learn to trust their modified vehicles and they can also consult doctors, physiotherapists and operators of the centres.