For the sixth year running, friends of Giancarlo Volpato, a rugby player victim of a similar incident as Cosimo and founder of the association La Colonna organised "I Swim for Gianca", a non competitive swimming event for solidarity whose aim is to help sports people who have suffered spinal cord injury in Italian rugby but also in other sports in general.

The beautiful panorama of the Tigullio was host to the 2011 edition of "I Swim for Gianca" over the Olympic distance of 10km from Portofino to Camogli, passing through the waters of the Area Marina Protetta, a protected Marine area. Ten thousand metres covered by swimming champions, ex rugby players, famous people and many others supporting the event.

Since last year the JK14 association, created by John Kirwan, Rugby World Champion in 1987 with the All Blacks, previous Italy Rugby Coach and current Japan Rugby Coach is a particular supporter of this event.

John Kirwan himself took time to act as journalist to "interview" Matteo about Amici di Cosimo's activities in spreading a safety approach in italian rugby: here's the video (italian only) offered by Sky Sport:

In the water, alongside John Kirwan were some junior champions of long distance swimming Luca Baldini, Edoardo Stocchino and Mattia Alberico and let's not forget the presence of Salvatore Cimmino who, having lost a leg as a child, is on his way to finishing a round the world swim.

The 2011 edition was particularly important for us because the goal achieved this year was the purchase of a car completely equipped for all of Cosimo's needs!!! By clicking here you can read the news report of the event where the organisers declare their objective.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank all participants for what they have done for us and for Cosimo, for their contribution towards our objective of spreading safety in Rugby, with the hope that the 2011 edition can be the beginning of a productive collaboration for the future.