Dario's dream: a swim in the sea of Salento
Dario Alvisi, a husband and father from Faenza living with ALS (a highly debilitating neurodegenerative disease), never gave up in the face of his illness.
With the support of his family, friends, and colleagues, in the summer of 2017, he fulfilled a dream: to take a swim in the sea of Salento, in San Foca di Melendugno (Lecce).
After an 800 km journey in a minivan, Dario met Gaetano Fuso of the “Io Posso” Association, also affected by ALS, and one of the founders of *La Terrazza Tutti Al Mare!*, a facility equipped and assisted to offer free swimming for guests with any type of disability, including severe impairments.
Inspired by Dario’s experience in Puglia and following the example of *Io Posso*, the Volunteering Association Insieme a Te was founded in Faenza in 2017. In 2018, it opened a beach resort in Punta Marina Terme (Ra) dedicated to people with severe disabilities.
The growth of the Association
Thanks to the support of many contributors, the Association has grown over time, acquiring aids and supportive equipment while continuing to welcome hundreds of people with disabilities free of charge at its fully equipped and assisted beach facility, with the help of many volunteers.
In 2022, the beach facility was complemented by the management of three accessible apartments, each equipped with a reclining bed and a hoist provided free of charge by the Association, intended for the accommodation of beach guests and their families.
The Insieme a Te Association also organises awareness initiatives and projects in schools, focusing on disability in general, as well as specific conditions like ALS and neuromuscular diseases. These initiatives promote human, social, and educational engagement, particularly among young people, fostering empathy and support for those living with disabling conditions.
The Association also relies on the support of institutions, local authorities, and other organisations to achieve its statutory goals in assisting those in need.
