A non-profit organization in memory of the late MotoGP rising star Marco Simoncelli has been realized through the efforts of his family and friends.

"The Marco Simoncelli Foundation" began as an idea of Carlo Pernat (Simoncelli’s manager) and was immediately embraced by the Simoncelli family, who worked quickly to make the foundation a legal reality.

"We completed all of the paperwork in a very short time," said Paolo Simoncelli, "and we are ready to start work." The president of the foundation will be Marco’s mother Rossella, while Paolo Simoncelli’s sister Angela and Dr. Arnaldo Cappellini will sit on the board of directors. Sister Martina and girlfriend Kate, with assistance from Carlo Pernat and Paolo Beltramo (Mediaset MotoGP journalist and friend) will offer their assistance.

"We already have several initiatives underway. For example, on January 20 an event titled 'Happy Birthday Sic' will be held at the 105 Stadium in Rimini, an evening designed for fun as my son would have liked. There will be comedians from the TV show Zelig on stage and many of Simoncelli’s friends from the GP paddock are also expected to show up. We are also working on an exhibition dedicated to Marco in the City of Coriano, managed directly by the Foundation. We are just getting started and we're surrounded by positivity that was so typical of Marco, positivity that affected everyone around him and made him an extraordinary person."

"The basic premise of the Foundation," explained Paolo Simoncelli, "is that through keeping the memory of Marco alive we can help alleviate suffering of those who are worse off than us. It is hard for me to say where and how the funds raised will be distributed, since I cannot assess how much we will have available as time goes by. One thing is certain; I will try and manage all this as a good father."

"We received a huge number of messages of affection for Marco" added Paolo Simoncelli, "and this has helped and continues to help us overcome the difficult times that we live with daily. Seeing how many people loved our son has helped us go on and we believe that ‘The Marco Simoncelli Foundation’ represents the best way to remember him in the future."

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