"Sammy's Journey" was a key step in making Progeria known nationally and internationally.

In 2014, in fact, Sammy, his parents and Riccardo, a great friend of Sammy's, travelled the world-famous Route 66 from Chicago, Lake Michigan, across America to Santa Monica, California.

Thousands of kilometres that took them not only to see the big US cities, but also the great natural parks and the desert, typical and 'alien' countries such as Roswell, as well as living side by side with people such as the Amish, the Navajo, the African-American communities or simply the citizens of hamlets and villages.

This journey, which also led its protagonists to meet film giants such as James Cameron and Matt Groening, was followed by a television crew that created an eight-part docu-film of the same name, which was the most-watched programme of the last ten years on National Geographic Italia.

"An incredible achievement that first of all showed how Progeria does not prevent sufferers from having formidable experiences, but above all made our cause famous with an underlying sympathy that is by no means taken for granted."

- Sammy Basso