by InTrieste
About 80 shops, restaurants and other businesses in Trieste are expected to take part in “Un Lino per ogni vetrina,” a campaign designed to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and support research ahead of World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14.
The initiative was organized by Insù, the Trieste association for young people with diabetes, with support from Confcommercio Trieste, Fipe Trieste and IAL FVG. It has received the patronage of the Municipality of Trieste, the Giuliano Isontina University Health Authority (ASUGI), the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, the University of Trieste and AGD Italia APS.
The campaign aims to draw public attention to Type 1 diabetes, which affects approximately 7,000 people in Friuli Venezia Giulia, according to the organizers.
Participating businesses will decorate their windows and display areas primarily in blue, the color associated with the international symbol for diabetes awareness: a blue circle. Each display will feature a teddy bear named Lino, part of a project developed by AGD Italia. The bears will wear custom-made outfits created by students enrolled in tailoring courses at IAL FVG.
Businesses will be invited to submit photographs of their displays to Insù. Members of the public will be able to view and vote on the entries through a QR code linking to a dedicated Facebook page.
A jury will subsequently select three winning businesses in a competition called “La vetrina più dolce,” or “The Sweetest Shop Window.”
At the end of the campaign, participating shopkeepers and business owners will be able to keep their teddy bears in exchange for a donation supporting diabetes research at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, a pediatric research and health care institute in Trieste.
The initiative combines local business participation with public awareness activities and fundraising for research into a condition that often requires lifelong treatment and monitoring.
