In February, the Olympic champion Yuri Chechi paid a visit to Montefiore therapeutic community’s staff and residents (Dianova Italy), to the delight of everyone. The double Olympic medalist (he won men’s artistic rings gold in Atlanta 1996 summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in Athens, 2004) met with many of the center’s residents, showing availability, sympathy as well as a sincere interest in the activities developed by Dianova.
The therapeutic staff explained to him what the various activities of the center consist in, whereupon Yuri Chechi had a long discussion with several beneficiaries, all of whom shared their personal experiences with him and their desire to reclaim their lives. The Olympic champ later on sent a message of hope to everyone, stressing how motivation and inner strength could make a difference, in sports as in real life, while enabling those struggling with an addiction problem to overcome the greatest obstacles.
The Dianova team at Montefiore therapeutic community expressed their warm appreciation and thanks to the “Lord of the Rings”, Mr Chechi who was then offered a book about addiction prevention and a poetry booklet by the center’s residents, with texts written on the occasion of the “Dianova Art” Festival held in November of last year.
In conclusion, Yuri expressed his heartfelt thanks for this beautiful day spent at Montefiore and promised the residents he would come back to teach them the basis of gymnastics apparatus. Last but not least, the champion promised he would support Dianova’s international drug awareness campaign, REACT.
