An award for commitment to health and the value of volunteering. During the 18th edition of the DH Lawrence International Travel Literature Festival, the 2026 City of Mandas Award was presented to Carol Tola, president of the Cagliari Diabetics Association ETS-ODV, for her long-standing commitment to raising diabetes awareness and for the numerous activities she has undertaken for patients and their families.
This recognition was welcomed with emotion by Tola, who wanted to share it with the entire association and the world of volunteers. "On behalf of myself and the entire Cagliari Diabetics Association, I would like to thank Mayor Umberto Oppus and the City of Mandas. I dedicate this recognition to the members of the association and to all the families in the area: we don't work just for ourselves, but to provide concrete help and support to anyone in need."
The evening also confirmed the Festival's transversal vocation , reaching beyond literature, history, and culture to embrace themes such as health, solidarity, and social issues. It was a way to tell the story of the region through its people, their experiences, and their daily commitment.
The Festival continues today, Saturday, October 3, with a day suspended between past and present. We'll discuss motors with Angelo Melis, Paolo Pezzuoli, and Roberto Muller, with an introductory greeting from Roberto Giacobbo. At 5:00 pm, "Lotta Amata" by Emanuele Cioglia will be presented, along with Rossana Copez, Germano Orrù, Vincenzo Soddu, and Dario Cosseddu. The novel is set primarily in Cagliari in 1980, during the dramatic years of terrorism and social unrest. Drawing on a true incident that occurred in Piazza Matteotti, it intertwines memory, history, and personal experiences, capturing the atmosphere of a Sardinia riven by the ideologies and conflicts of the Years of Lead.
