Pisa forward Rao honoured for diabetes advocacy before Cremonese clash

Pisa forward Emanuele Rao, who lives with type 1 diabetes, will be presented with a commemorative plaque by the AGD Pisa association ahead of tonight's Serie B fixture against Cremonese.

US Cremonese's away fixture at Pisa tonight at 19:30 will be preceded by a moment of significant social importance. The Nerazzurri forward Emanuele Rao will receive a commemorative plaque from the Young Diabetics Association (AGD) Pisa for his commitment to raising awareness about type 1 diabetes. The presentation is set for the pre-match period at the Arena Garibaldi, where Massimiliano Alvini's side, 15th in the table with 6 points, will face the seventh-placed Tuscans.

Emanuele Rao, a young Pisa Sporting Club forward and member of the Italy Under 20 national team, lives with type 1 diabetes. The association, founded in 1993 to support families and schools, sees Rao as a concrete example for children and young people. AGD Pisa issued a statement for the occasion. "Today, together with AGD Pisa APS, there are many children and young people living with type 1 diabetes", the association said. "We thank Emanuele Rao, because, with his story, he is not just a footballer to applaud, but a concrete example for all the children who today, looking at you, can believe even more in their dreams. To you, the thanks of all the families of AGD Pisa APS".

The ceremony will take place ahead of a match important for Cremonese's league ambitions. The Grigiorossi, unbeaten in their last five games with a record of two wins and three draws, are seeking valuable away points to climb the standings. Cremonese, with 5 goals scored and 7 conceded this season, currently trails league leaders Palermo by 10 points. The next fixture after Pisa is visible on the official fixtures page. The Pisa forward, who wears the number 17 shirt, is cited as a role model alongside other professional athletes like tennis player Alexander Zverev.

For Cremonese, focus will quickly shift to the pitch after this moment. The team comes from a goalless draw against Arezzo and has scored 5 league goals this season, with Federico Bonazzoli the top scorer with 3. Manager Alvini will need to find solutions to break down a Pisa defence occupying a high table position. The grigiorossi have built this unbeaten run from their last five results: the draw with Arezzo, a 1-0 win at Juventus with Bonazzoli scoring, a 3-2 victory away to Monza, a goalless draw with Virtus Entella, and a 2-2 draw at Cesena. Kick-off is at 19:30 tonight at the Arena Garibaldi.

This story first appeared at PisaToday