Aism, gardenias and hydrangeas for research in 5 thousand squares

A gardenia and a hydrangea, two flowers in harmony, symbols of a deep bond between women and multiple sclerosis. MS, a disease that affects women twice as often as men, enters life between the ages of 20 and 30, a period of great plans and dreams. For this Aism with Welcome back Gardensia brings her two flowers to Italian squares for International Women’s Day. Promoted by Aism, the event, which takes place under the patronage of the President of the Republic, invites everyone to participate by choosing a gardenia, hydrangea or both. A gesture that goes beyond the beauty of flowers, supporting scientific research, the only weapon available today to defeat multiple sclerosis and related pathologies.

Multiple sclerosis, five possible warning signs

by Mara Magistroni

December 10, 2023

Aism gardenias and hydrangeas in 5 thousand squares

On Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March, 14 thousand volunteers in around 5 thousand squares celebrate the value of Gardensia and the fight against MS. An invitation “to donate and spread hope for a future beyond the disease, which involves not only those affected by it, but the entire family”. It is already possible to book your gardenia and hydrangea plants, for a minimum donation of 15 euros each, by contacting the provincial section of your city whose list can be consulted on

“The funds raised in the squares will go to guarantee and strengthen the services intended for people with multiple sclerosis and to support scientific research also on related pathologies – explains the association -. Thanks to the progress made by scientific research, there are therapies and treatments capable of slow down the progression of multiple sclerosis. Research in the last 20 years has made giant strides to ensure very effective treatments that have changed the impact on the quality of daily life. But the causes of the disease are still unknown and research is essential to find the definitive cure”.

Chiara Francini, Aism ambassador and face of the Gardensia campaign, shares a special bond with the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association, born from the memory of her grandfather Quirino, suffering from a degenerative disease. Gardenia, dedicated to women, takes on a profound meaning for her: the gardenia and hydrangea become symbols of female solidarity and represent the bond between women, those most affected by multiple sclerosis. He joins her Antonella Ferrarigodmother of AISM, who underlines the importance of “flourishing together”, a concept that is also reflected in the daily activities of Aism, where every day people support each other to go beyond multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis: the first trials with Car-T therapies begin

by Tiziana Moriconi

01 March 2024

Fundraising

There is also a solidarity number to donate: 45512 allows you to collect other funds for research and, specifically, for the project “Promopro-Ms Digital Edition” promoted by Fism, the Aism foundation to evaluate the progression of the disease and predict its progress. The people involved participate in the research by monitoring the perception of their health status via an app and contributing to the personalization of therapeutic treatments.

The algorithm was developed by a team of researchers led by Giampaolo Brichetto, coordinator of Fism rehabilitation research and medical director of the Aism Liguria rehabilitation service. The donation amounts with solidarity number 45512 will be 5 or 10 euros from a call from Tim, Vodafone, WindTre, Fastweb, Tiscali and Geny landlines, 5 euros from a call from Twt, Convergenze and PosteMobile landlines and 2 euros with text messages from personal WindTre, Tim, Vodafone, Iliad, PosteMobile, CoopVoce and Tiscali mobile phones.

Here’s who joined the initiative

Aism, together with its Foundation (Fism) is the only organization in Italy that for over 55 years has intervened at 360 degrees on multiple sclerosis, directing, supporting and promoting scientific research, contributing to increasing knowledge of multiple sclerosis and the needs of people who suffer from it by promoting services and treatments necessary to ensure a better quality of life and affirming their rights.

To the initiative Welcome back Gardensia Assaeroporti, the Italian association of airport managers, have joined, together with the airports of: Bari, Brindisi, Foggia and Taranto, Bergamo, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania and Comiso, Crotone, Lamezia Terme and Reggio Calabria, Cuneo, Florence and Pisa, Forlì, Genoa, Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa, Naples and Salerno, Olbia, Palermo, Turin and Trapani and Aeroporti 2030, the Italian Association representing the airport managers of Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino, Venice, Verona, Treviso and Brescia.

Multiple sclerosis, this slows down the progression and improves cognitive function

by Dario Rubino

October 19, 2023

What is multiple sclerosis

But what is multiple sclerosis? Chronic, unpredictable and disabling, multiple sclerosis is one of the most serious diseases of the central nervous system. It often causes disability, even serious ones. 50% of people affected by the disease are young, not yet 40 years old. It is mainly women who are affected, twice as much as men.

Multiple sclerosis is the leading cause of neurological disability in young adults after trauma. In Italy there are 140 thousand people who have been diagnosed: 3,600 new cases every year, 1 every 3 hours. The cause and the definitive cure have not yet been found, but thanks to the progress made by scientific research, there are therapies and treatments capable of slowing down its progression and improving the quality of life of patients. For this reason, Aism claims, “it is essential to support scientific research”. Among the pathologies related to Multiple Sclerosis there is neuromyelitis optica (Nmo), which has a framework of health and social care needs and interventions similar to MS. There are 1,500-2,000 cases of neuromyelitis optica in Italy.