Bpco: here are the winners of scritture in rosa, the competition giving voice to patients and caregivers

Promoting health, combining a love of writing and boosting prevention. Three categories (patients, caregivers and healthcare personnel) for nine prize-winners in the first edition of the 'Scritture in Rosa' literary competition, promoted by the Associazione Respiriamo Insieme Aps, with the aim of raising awareness of the increasing prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among women. COPD is a chronic lung disease that affects 330 million people worldwide, making it the third leading cause of death. By 2050, it is estimated - from a study by the American Lung Association - that diagnosed cases in women will increase by 47%, compared to 9% in men. The main causes? Smoking abuse and increased pollution. And it is precisely from the need to give greater visibility and awareness of the risks that the first edition of the women's literary competition 'Scritture in Rosa per dare emozione al respiro' was born in 2025, a project created with the aim of recounting the experiences of women dealing with COPD, their physical and emotional stories.

On Wednesday 19 November, at the Spazio Sette Bookshop in Rome, on the occasion of World COPD Day, the award ceremony was held for the nine winning short stories of this first edition of the literary competition. Valentina Coluccino (San Vitaliano, NA) took first place in the 'COPD Patients' category, followed by Ivana Dolciami (Città di Castello, PG) and Annamaria Nigro (Cisterna di Latina). For the 'Caregiver' category: Ilaria Di Donato (Lanciano Chieti),Teresa Averta (Vibo Valentia) and Rita De Fazio (Naples). For the 'Health Personnel' section: Alessia Morelli (Rome), Alessandra Spagnolo (Genoa) and Laura Pini (Brescia). "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is not just a 'male disease', it is actually increasingly prevalent among women and causes 3.23 million victims every year. It is essential to raise awareness of this disease," emphasised the President of Respiriamo Insieme Aps Simona Barbaglia. "The great success of the Scritture in Rosa competition, which attracted 60 stories from all over Italy, of which 28 were selected among the best and 9 were proclaimed winners, shows how closely this issue touches the daily lives of many women and how important it is to offer them a real space in which to share experiences and difficulties related to the disease. Scritture in Rosa wants to be a starting point to turn the spotlight on this disease that affects thousands and thousands of women around the world every year. Early diagnosis is the first step to stop the disease and improve life prospects. Let's Breathe Together works precisely in this direction: doing prevention to educate patients and those at their side'.

"I was pleased to accept the invitation to be part of the jury of this new edition of 'Scritture in Rosa', an initiative that is not simply a 'literary competition', but a real space for expression and sharing of lives and experiences," stressed Ilenia Malavasi, member of the XII Commission for Social Affairs and Health - We know how Bpco, unfortunately, is a pathology that profoundly impacts the daily lives of those who suffer from it and those who are close to them, and I confess that, on several occasions, reading the selected stories has meant coming into contact with deep emotions: we talk about family members, caregivers, carers, social workers, doctors, nurses, and every word and many stories, reveal extraordinary stories of resilience, marked by the complexity of living, caring and assisting in the presence of this disease'. For Senator Elena Murelli, a member of the Tenth Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health, Public and Private Labour, Social Security of the Senate of the Republic and Secretary of the Presidency of Palazzo Madama, 'telling one's story, giving voice to personal experience, making pain, strength or resilience visible also means offering an empathetic view of what it means to live with an illness from a female point of view. Giving space to the words of patients, caregivers and health professionals is a fundamental step towards promoting care that is more attentive, more humane and closer to the needs of those who face COPD every day. This competition is an important signal in the direction of a medicine that is truly oriented towards the person and their story'.

The 'Scritture in Rosa per dare emozione al respiro' project is organised by the Associazione Respiriamo Insieme Aps, under the patronage of the Italian Association of Hospital Pneumologists and the Italian Society of Pneumology, and realised with ALI-Associazione Librai Italiani, MOOX and Digital Solutions, with the non-binding contribution of Chiesi Italia. "Today's appointment is a special moment to celebrate the talent and courage of women living with COPD," added Raffaello Innocenti, CEO & Managing Director of Chiesi Italy. "With Scritture in Rosa we wanted to support a project that creates a space for listening and sharing, because writing is not only artistic expression, but also a bridge towards awareness and inclusion. In addition to President Simona Barbaglia, the jurors for the competition also include the Secretary of the Presidency of the Senate of the Republic Elena Murelli and MP and member of the Social Affairs and Health Commission of the Chamber of Deputies Ilenia Malavasi. Also on the panel of judges were the President of the Aipo Association Claudio Micheletto, Professor Gianna Camiciottoli, pneumologist and Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of Respiriamo Insieme and former head of the AIU Severe Asthma Unit, President-elect Sip-IRrs Paola Rogliani, the Director of the Patient Advocacy Lab of ALTEMS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Maria Teresa Petrangolini, the journalist and radio and television presenter Annalisa Manduca, the President of ALI Confcommercio Paolo Ambrosini and deputy Aldo Addis, the writers Sara Rattaro and Mariapia Valadiano, the journalist of Radio 24 (Il Sole 24ore) and presenter of the programme "Il Cacciatore di libri" Alessandra Tedesco, Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro of SIP IRS, Maria Leone legal consultant Associazione Respiriamo Insieme Asp. For partner Chiesi Italia: Giovanni Gigante, Senior Director Medical Affairs and Benedetta Luoni, Communication Lead. The competition won GSK's To take a breath call.