AS Roma announced this Friday that will buy three ventilators and eight new intensive care beds for a Roman hospital that addresses the COVID-19 crisis, after the players and the coaching staff have donated their one-day salary to the fundraising campaign that keeps the club active.
“After discussing the critical situation in Italy, that overtook China on Thursday for the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the world, the first team players and the club's coaching staff unanimously agreed that each will donate a daily salary to the campaign, in addition to any individual contributions that many of them have already made“, indicated the club 'giallorosso' in a press release.
“Your joint donation, which amounts to more than 200,000 euros, means that the fundraising campaign presented a week ago currently amounts to 460,000 euros and is within walking distance of the pre-launch target of 500,000 euros“, the text has continued.
“With the Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital, one of the most important specialized hospitals in Italy in the national fight against coronavirus, now absolutely desperate for new equipment, Roma agreed to immediately use a proportion of the funds to order three intensive care ventilators, five pulmonary ventilators for subintensive care and eight new intensive care beds“, he has detailed the note.
“At such a difficult time for humanity, Feeling the tangible support of the Roma Cares Foundation fills us with pride and gives us the positivity we need to face the arduous work that we have ahead “, said Marta Branca, general director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in the mentioned hospital.
“Doctors and nurses have been working hard to fight and contain the disease, but it is important and necessary that we have everyone's support“Branca added in this regard.
“The players and the coaching staff wanted to do something very significant for the city and the people who suffer in this country.“commented the executive director of Roma, Guido Fienga.
“At times like this, it is important that we all assume our responsibilities and do what we can to help. Whether it's the president, our players, our staff, our former players, and all of our fans from Rome and elsewhere, everyone who has contributed has helped pay for these new intensive care ventilators, which will help save real lives, “stressed Fienga.
“Nevertheless, we won't give up and now we want to raise even more money, exceed our goal of 500,000 euros and buy more essential equipment for the hospital, “added the executive director 'giallorosso'.
Roma already delivered last Tuesday 13,000 FFP2 masks to city hospitals, along with 120 bottles of disinfectant gel for 500 ml hands. After that, the Roma Cares Foundation delivered 8,000 pairs of protective gloves and 2,000 bottles of disinfectant to churches in key parts of the Italian capital, to be redistributed among the most vulnerable people.