- Ducati launches #raceagainstCovid, a fundraiser organized by the Borgo Panigale company in favour of the Policlinico di S.Orsola of Bologna, an excellence of the territory as well as one of the largest hospitals in Italy. In this way, Ducati wishes to contribute to the fight against Covid-19, and it does so with the approach that most distinguishes the company - that of great challenges, forming a team, sharing a goal and looking to the future.
For this reason, Ducati has rallied together its entire family - employees of the Bologna headquarters and its subsidiaries throughout the world, DOC, dealers, suppliers, partners, riders and enthusiasts - to offer concrete support to those who work every day in the front line to protect the health of citizens.
Making your contribution to the fundraising is simple: for those wishing to donate by credit card, just go to the dedicated page of the GoFundMe platform (of which a mobile app is also available); for those who prefer to participate by bank transfer, simply make a payment to the account of the Hospital (IBAN IT68E0306902480100000300027), indicating the cause
"raceagainstCovid donation". The donations are received directly by the University Hospital of Bologna Policlinico di S. Orsola.
The goal is to collect, by June 2020, the necessary funds to finance instrumentation, research and staff of the Policlinico di S.Orsola of Bologna dedicated to the exclusive care of patients in post Covid-19 convalescence.
"Even on those who recover, Covid-19 often leaves a significant aftermath on organs and systems that it has attacked with its harsh action. Lungs, heart, circulatory system, kidneys, brain are the preferred targets of the virus. Impairments of lung, cardiac and renal function occur, the risk of thrombosis remains and there may also be neurological residues. To monitor these patients, treat them and follow their rehabilitation, dedicated multidisciplinary areas have been set up with cardiologists, neurologists, nephrologists, pneumologists, physiatrists and infectious disease specialists.
For these patients, even complex rehabilitation programs are proposed that require dedicated personnel and specific equipment such as, for example, telemedicine tools for remote patient control, robots for patient rehabilitation at home, ultrasound, echocardiographs, electro-stimulators of respiratory muscles and instruments that measure their strength and train them, traditional active and passive exercise bicycles (for patients with respiratory problems forced in bed)", declared
Chiara Gibertoni, General Manager of the Policlinico di S.Orsola.
Ducati has always been an active part of its territory, which is characterized internationally for the Motor Valley of ‘masterpieces’ on two and four wheels, but also for its excellent medical facilities. The Emilia-Romagna Region has become a national hub for the treatment of Covid-19. The same Ducatisti from all over the world are extremely close to this land which has always been the location for the factory where the red bikes of Borgo Panigale come from.
"Faced with a tragedy such as that caused by the Covid-19 virus, one can remain immobile, paralyzed by terror, or react quickly, precisely and in a coordinated way. Helping the health system in every possible way is a duty of every single citizen and also of the companies that are a fundamental part of the social fabric," declared
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO. "Ducati was founded in Bologna ninety-four years ago and is therefore inextricably linked to this city. I am sure that our riders, fans and enthusiasts from all over the world will join us to give the city and the whole country a strong sign of solidarity, as well as sincere thanks for the effort and dedication that the doctors are making to combat this new and still not fully understood serious illness."
The members of the Ducati Board started off the fundraising collection, followed by many other employees. The amount collected was then doubled by the company, reaching the amount of € 100,000, the starting point of #raceagainstCovid.
"In all these weeks of Coronavirus emergency, our regional public health service has received incredible demonstrations of support in the face of the outstanding work of doctors, nurses and operators to whom we will always be grateful," commented
the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini. "A lot of affinity and many donations, from those who could give a lot and from those who could give less, but really a desire to stay united against the pandemic that still continues today. This is why Ducati's initiative is just as wonderful and important: to mobilize both its employees, a formidable team, and Ducati enthusiasts all over the world for a fundraiser that will support the post-Covid rehabilitation activity of the S.Orsola hospital in Bologna, given the important consequences that it can still have on the organs and systems attacked by the virus of those who recover. Both dedicated staff and specific equipment are needed, and Ducati is on the track for this: thanks very much to Claudio Domenicali, to the entire Borgo Panigale team and to anyone who loves the red bikes for what is already a certain victory. Thanks again."
All information on the fundraising is also available on the dedicated page of the
Ducati website.
Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. - A Sole Shareholder Company - A Company subject to the Management and Coordination activities of AUDI AG
Founded in 1926, since 1946 Ducati has been manufacturing sport-inspired motorcycles characterised by high-performance Desmodromic engines, innovative design and cutting-edge technology. With its factory located in Bologna’s Borgo Panigale district, in 2016 Ducati celebrated 90 years since its foundation. The model range covers several market segments with the following families: Diavel, XDiavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, SuperSport, Panigale and Streetfighter. In 2015, Ducati presented the Ducati Scrambler: a new brand made of bikes, accessories and apparel that that stands out for its creativity and self-expression.
In 2017, Ducati presented the Panigale V4, the first Ducati production bike to mount a 4-cylinder engine derived directly from the Desmosedici GP engine. Ducati iconic motorcycles, together with an extensive range of bike accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries worldwide. In 2019 Ducati delivered 53,183 bikes to customers, consolidating its sales over the 50,000-bike threshold for the fifth year running. Ducati competes in both MotoGP and Superbike World Championships. It has been competing in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers' and Riders' titles in 2007, while in Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers' titles and 14 Riders' titles.
The Policlinico S.Orsola
The University Hospital of Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola - Malpighi is an extremely old hospital (the first centre dates back to 1592) and is home to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. It is located in the heart of the city of Bologna over an area of approximately 1.8 km and a logistical organization which is structured in 27 pavilions that house the Operating Units of the Polyclinic. Every day around 20,000 people access the hospital (employees, university students and teachers, patients, visitors and suppliers). The Polyclinic is a national and international reference centre for various pathologies. The internal organization is structured into 9 departments with integrated activity (hospital and university), a type of organization that enables it to guarantee assistance, teaching and research activities, to which the 87 operating units belong. It has 1,487 beds with a staff of 5,185 employees, including researchers and university doctors; there are approximately 65,000 hospitalizations per year and over 3,000,000 specialist external services. The Policlinico is part of the Covid Intensive Care, a structure supporting the intensive care of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Italian national network.
