Life dealt a cruel blow to a happy, outgoing, sporty eleven-year-old from the Veneto one year ago. The youngster, called Beatrice but known to everyone as Bebe, contracted fulminant meningitis and, following a septic crisis, her arms and legs were amputated.
Bebe was obviously shocked and emotionally devastated but she did not despair as she might have done for, with the help of modern prostheses, the support of her wonderful family, teachers who went to her home to teach her in the afternoons and most of all thanks to her own determination and courage, she was able to return to school. She even rejoined her scout group and went camping with them.
Bebe’s ambition now is to resume her favourite sport, fencing. However, for a growing child who is an amputee the costs of prostheses are prohibitive because they have to be changed every two years. Sports prostheses are even more expensive. So Bebe’s parents and friends decided to set up an association, Art4sport, to raise funds for the design and manufacture of children’s sports prostheses and “to involve and motivate children and parents to believe in sport and its innumerable benefits”.
Last Saturday the Association held its inaugural event, a Family Run for which Bebe designed the flyer, at the Venice Marathon. Around 6,000 people took part and Bebe’s hero Oscar Petorius, the “blade runner”, attended. He even pushed Bebe’s wheelchair for part of the way. These were thrilling moments for this courageous little girl who has inspired people from all over the world and who keeps smiling, whatever happens. Somehow I think Bebe is going to be fencing again very soon.
