[this just in from Boyan Petrov aka the Bulgarian Spider (I am responsible for this moniker 'cause I like it! no edits from me on his text either)  dp]
 
Hi all there!
 
Below is my brief report on how I contributed to the World Diabetes Day 2008 in Bulgaria.
 
This year, I was invited by the National Association of Kids with Diabetes (NAKD) to give a talk in a cinema hall in the City Center mall in Sofia.
 
NAKD did a lot of work to prepare the celebration of the 14th November 2008. Again Novo Nordisk generously supported the event by organizing a huge concert in the city biggest hall (3000+ persons). Many PR activities were carried prior to this day and all electronic media and press widely announced and covered the event. In result, the Palace of Culture (the biggest building in Sofia) was lighted in blue that night, journalists interviewed many doctors, experts and patients with diabetes and a declaration on diabetes cares and prevention was voted in the parliament.
 
Just before the concert, I carried an 1h powerpoint presentation in a full hall with more than 250 kids, pupils, students and parents. I presented a story for my active life with diabetes, pictures from my climbing and caving expeditions, scientific discoveries, diabetic ups and downs. Afterwards we all went to climb on a climbing wall just at the upper floor of the mall. After looking at my pictures many kids wanted to climb but not all managed to do this during the one hour period, which we had for this.
 
This day ended with a super concert, where many Bulgarian music and dance teen’s and other stars attended. On the next day I joined the kids with diabetes who went to a big International Cat Exhibition. I am not a mad cat lover, but enjoyed the fair because I took along my 2 years old son who became crazy to see so many cats and kid ;-)
 
Boyan Petrov, Sofia, Bulgaria