For the past two years, THE PACK’s offroad test rider Zeger “Ziggy” Verbeke has been on a mission. Deeply inspired by Mototerapia pioneers Vanni Oddera and Antonio Navas, Ziggy has worked relentlessly to help bring Mototerapia to Belgium.
The road hasn’t been easy. Throughout 2024, countless emails went unanswered. Progress stalled. Until a single connection changed everything. Ziggy reached out to his friend Mascha Artz, who happened to be Facebook friends with Antonio Navas. One message later, the wheels were finally turning. Within days, Antonio contacted Ziggy via WhatsApp. Soon after, Vanni Oddera himself joined the conversation.
That chain of events led Ziggy to pack the van and drive 1,200 kilometers from Belgium to Italy, 2,400 kilometers round trip, with one goal: to witness Mototerapia at its purest form, inside a hospital.
Inside Ospedale Gaslini
At 9:30 sharp, Ziggy stood waiting at the day clinic reception of Ospedale Gaslini in Genoa. What followed was nothing short of overwhelming.
Some experiences are too powerful to fully capture in words, so here’s what a typical Mototerapia morning at Gaslini looks like:
- Vanni Oddera and multiple riders cruising through hospital corridors on electric bikes, children riding along, smiles everywhere, from kids to parents, nurses, doctors, and riders alike
- A Christmas tree meet & greet, complete with Santa Claus, presents, and princesses helping children choose their gifts
- Face painting, covering faces, hands, and arms with color
- Ponies strolling through hospital hallways, ready for hugs
- A stunt mountain bike session, including a rider descending an automatic staircase
- Action heroes available for chats, photos, and endless high-fives
- The Grinch, goofing around and handing out presents
- Children sitting on a real police motorcycle, receiving explanations from actual police riders
And that was only the morning.
When the afternoon turns magical
The afternoon raised the bar even higher:
- Children getting chauffeured in Super Mario’s supercar, driven by Super Mario himself
- The Grinch facing off against Santa Claus
- A mountain biker jumping over action heroes
- Surprise hallway visits from electric bike riders, princesses, the Grinch, and superheroes
- More presents, more conversations, more laughter
The laughter, the tears, the joy, it was raw, real, and deeply human. Mototerapia isn’t a show. It’s connection.
Closing the day with ABEO
The day ended with a visit to a local initiative supported by Vanni and his team: ABEO Liguria.
ABEO (Associazione Ligure del Bambino Emopatico e Oncologico) was founded in 1982 by parents, doctors, and Prof. Luisa Massimo, then Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the Gaslini Institute. Its mission is to support children affected by leukemia and tumors, and their families, during long and difficult treatment journeys.
What began modestly, with just a few volunteers learning how best to support young patients and their families, quickly revealed a crucial need: a place where families could stay together outside the hospital, yet remain close for treatments and check-ups.
In 1993, ABEO purchased several apartments to provide a safe, private environment for families needing longer-term accommodation. Today, thanks to volunteers and generous donations, ABEO offers 1,000 square meters of living spaceon Via Redipuglia, just steps away from Ospedale Gaslini.
It’s a place to rest, to talk, to share food, to connect, and yes, to experience Mototerapia.
Why this matters
Guy Salens – THE PACK: “For Ziggy, this trip wasn’t just a visit. It was proof. Proof that Mototerapia works. Proof that it belongs inside hospitals. And proof that Belgium is ready for it too. THE PACK proudly supports Ziggy’s mission to bring Mototerapia home, and this journey to Italy was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passion, persistence, and people come together.”
About Mototerapia Belgium
Mototerapia Belgium is an innovative social initiative that brings therapeutic motorcycle experiences, primarily using quiet electric bikes, into hospitals and care environments. The project offers moments of joy, distraction, and emotional relief to patients and vulnerable individuals, and is increasingly recognized as a valuable complementary therapy. Driven by offroad rider Zeger “Ziggy” Verbeke and supported by Motorsport Vlaanderen, Mototerapia Belgium exists for one simple reason: to create smiles, calm, and connection for those facing illness or disability.
With the support of:
