80 participants at the ELA Italy family respite weekend

For the second year running, ELA Italy has offered families the chance to spend a meaningful and precious weekend together, thanks to ELA International’s “Respite” call for proposals. This initiative was funded by the proceeds raised during the 2024 edition of the “Watches for ELA” auction.

The break took place from 4 July at the splendid Fattoria La Principina, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma: a welcoming venue, nestled in lush greenery and fully accessible, designed to allow everyone to enjoy every moment of the holiday to the full.

Upon their arrival, the families were welcomed into an atmosphere of great kindness and serenity. The meeting with the psychological team from IRCCS Stella Maris was a particularly memorable moment: the team shared important insights and advice with the families on the day-to-day management of leukodystrophies, offering them a space for listening, discussion and sharing.

But the respite was not just an opportunity to chat and catch up. Above all, it was a time dedicated to light-heartedness, conviviality and the joy of being together.

The Comici Camici made this stay even more special: they got both young and older guests involved with music, singing and dancing, creating an evening full of fun and carefree enjoyment. Even the resort’s magnificent swimming pool became a space for play, joy and sharing, where barriers truly seemed to disappear.
The young people enjoyed a variety of stimulating experiences: they had the chance to interact directly with the animals at the educational farm, tried their hand at making desserts in the baking workshop, and spent relaxing moments in the pine forest surrounding the resort, together with their brothers and sisters.

Day after day, this holiday turned into something far greater than just a simple break.

It was an outpouring of life, friendship, emotions and shared moments. An opportunity to put aside, for a few days, the everyday struggles and focus instead on the people, the smiles, the connections and the joy of sharing experiences together.

And, once again, the full strength of the group became apparent: a special, almost immediate bond capable of breaking down all barriers. Because when people who face the same difficulties and share similar experiences come together, it becomes easier to understand one another, to support each other and to feel part of a community.