by Agostino Pellegrino
April 18th. A splendid day of celebration, passion and solidarity provided the backdrop to the gathering organised in Limido Comasco by The Fiat 500 Club Italia's East Milan Coordination Committee, along with the North Milan Coordination Committee, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Central Africa Association.
The initiative represented an important opportunity to get to know this reality better and to involve members and supporters of the Cinquecento, who were also invited to participate in the drawing of a charity lottery with a prestigious prize up for grabs. Fiat 500 L from 1971.
The atmosphere was immediately warm and welcoming: upon arrival, the crews were greeted by volunteers who, with great generosity, arranged the cars along the road, creating an elegant herringbone pattern that showcased each individual vehicle. After the approximately 40 participating crews had registered, a pleasant breakfast of coffee and a slice of Colomba cake was served.
During the morning, participants had the opportunity to visit an exhibition dedicated to the association's activities, a journey through photographs and stories that allowed us to discover firsthand the projects completed and the commitment carried out over the years.
Meanwhile, there was no shortage of curiosity and enthusiasm for buying lottery tickets, with many ready to try their luck at winning the coveted 500. To make the day even more special, a festive ride with our beloved cars went through Limido Comasco, the surrounding towns and Mozzate, accompanied by an escort from the local police and civil protection, amid smiles and greetings from the people met along the way.
Upon returning, the 500s were exhibited again, once again becoming the protagonists, while the participants indulged in a moment of refreshment with salami sandwiches, tomini cheeses, chips and cold drinks, kindly offered by the association while the “Mozza Fiato” guys continued to brighten up the day with pleasant background music.
Just before the drawing, attention turned to a beautiful (and delicious) 25th anniversary cake, which everyone in attendance ate with gusto!
At around 14:45 pm the most awaited moment of the day finally arrived: the extraction of the historic 500, which saw the victory of an incredulous citizen of Limido Comasco, while one of the five consolation prizes was won with satisfaction by a member of our Club, Diego Mastrogiacomo.
Once the event was over, amidst greetings and smiles, the crews got back in the car towards the Alserio Lake for a suggestive walk in the column.
Thanks to the beautiful weather, the stop near the educational mill turned into a pleasant moment of relaxation and conviviality, enhanced by the fun "ice time," with cool sorbets shared among the participants. After some conversation and a leisurely stroll along the lakeside, the day concluded with the crews returning home, taking with them the memories of a delightful and meaningful event.
A heartfelt thanks goes to the president of the association, Cristina Ceresoli, and ad Alice Cattaneo for their availability and collaboration, as well as Yuri Ferro of the Milan North Coordination and all the staff of the Milan East Coordination, always present and ready to contribute to the perfect success of the event.
