SWEET THOUGHTS, BIG HEARTS! BRESCIA’S CHOCOLATES SUPPORT RESEARCH
From 22 to 28 October, Dolci Pensieri brought chocolates and practical support for cancer research to squares across Brescia. The 2026 campaign has ended; the research project continues.
Imagine a box of chocolates in the middle of the table. Someone opens it, offers one to the person beside them and, between conversations, a question comes up: “Do you know which project we helped?” Something that simple can start an important conversation.
Dolci Pensieri 2026, the campaign run by the Associazione Oncologica Bresciana, took place in squares across Brescia and its province from 22 to 28 October. At its heart are cancer research and the people living with cancer: lives, families and hopes that deserve attention even when the immediate crisis leaves the headlines.
Dolci Pensieri 2026: bringing kindness to the square
Around 170 volunteers at 42 locations have been announced for this edition. FC Lumezzane is supporting promotion through president Andrea Caracciolo and its men’s and women’s teams. Sport and volunteering come together to introduce the fundraiser to more people.
The campaign was presented on 20 October at Palazzo Broletto, with AOB president Michele Costa and representatives of local institutions and oncology. From 22 to 28 October, around 170 volunteers brought it to 42 locations.
“Research becomes care”: the project supported by AOB
AOB’s official page says this edition will fund a researcher from the University of Brescia’s School of Specialisation in Medical Oncology, working alongside oncology specialists at ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia. The aim is to connect university and hospital so research findings can move more quickly into clinical practice.
The project combines translational research and artificial intelligence to develop tools intended to improve diagnosis and make treatment pathways more targeted and personalised. This is the project described by the association: no promise of a specific outcome, but research aimed at creating new possibilities for care.
How people took part in Dolci Pensieri in Brescia
During the campaign, AOB stated a €15 donation for a 280-gram box. The official page keeps the list of locations and details of the research project. For future initiatives, email info@aobbrescia.it or call +39 351 4072521.
Thinking of a present for a friend or something to take to a family gathering? You can share the story behind the box too. Explaining why you chose to support a project helps the initiative travel alongside the chocolates.
Behind every stand, someone chooses to be there
Volunteering often begins with a practical question: “What can I do?” If you would like to help, ask the association what tasks are needed and how to prepare. An agreed commitment helps the organisers and lets you understand what time you can realistically offer.
Do you live elsewhere? Let this story encourage you to discover associations near you. Stop, listen and ask about their projects and how they are supported. Trust grows through encounters like these.
A thought from CHIARA!: hope needs helping hands
When someone becomes ill, we want to find the right words immediately. Sometimes they do not come. We can still choose a gesture: being present, listening without rushing, supporting those who care for others.
For us, charity also lives in these everyday moments. A shared box can open a conversation about research and bring someone we love to mind. Who would you dedicate your sweet thought to?
