In sports halls and schools, the wheelchair basketball team overcomes the limits of disability

Two decades of sports and social inclusion. The month of March marks a milestone birthday for the Volpi Rosse Menarini, the Serie A wheelchair basketball team that, after the away game for the Eurocup 3, continues to fight for one of the top places in the national championship ranking. Cheering on the team there is the Menarini Group, which has been supporting the team and fostering inclusion through sports at the highest level.

Established in 2005 as an association for social activities as well as the first wheelchair basketball team in Tuscany, the Volpi Rosse Menarini has been able to transform their passion for the sport into an extraordinary pathway of growth. After years playing in youth leagues and Serie B, the turning point came in 2021, when they won the championship and were promoted to Serie A. Since then, the Florentine team has challenged even the top rivals in Italian wheelchair basketball, branching out on the international scene, qualifying for Eurocup 3 and winning second place in 2024.

But the Volpi Rosse Menarini don’t stop at competitive sports: the club is involved in two important social projects such as the Oltre l’ostacolo (Beyond the Obstacle), a project aimed at children aged 12 to 16 which offers a series of meetings in Tuscan schools to enhance awareness on the architectural, cultural, and mental barriers that may hinder complete inclusion. At the end of lessons in the classroom, pupils also get the chance to take part in a real-life training session together with Volpi Rosse Menarini athletes. The second project is the Movimento in allegria (Movement in Joy), which encourages children with physical or cognitive disabilities to gain greater independence.

"Seeing the team succeed and spread its message among young people is a source of great pride – highlighted Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders and members of the Menarini Board – Supporting the team is not only a commitment, but an honour. We will continue to do so because we believe that sport has the power to change people's lives".

Over the years, a deep bond has been forged between the company and the team, as confirmed in the words of President Ivano Nuti: "Thanks to Menarini's unconditional trust, we have been able to grow over the years, taking the team to European level and sharing our projects in Tuscan schools. In 20 years we have never left anyone behind, and we have striven to make inclusion a concrete reality".

A story of courage, commitment, and passion that continues day-by-day and we wish the Volpi Rosse Menarini all the very best!