On the evening of Wednesday 16 October 2013 at the "Christos Lambrakis" Hall of the Athens Concert Hall, in the presence of the President of the Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias, an anniversary event was held to celebrate 20 years of operation of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit which was established by the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer in 1993, at the Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital.
The event was attended by hundreds of friends of ELPIDA, people who have believed in ELPIDA's vision and have helped it in its struggle for a better world; many leading international figures, scientists, artists, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, heads of international organizations, and others who share ELPIDA's ideals of solidarity, peace, humanism and culture, and have become carriers of ELPIDA's message beyond Greece's borders; of course, the children – life's champions who have defeated cancer, who are excelling in their field of action and constitute shining examples of strength and optimism; and their parents, who have stood by their ailing children with bravery and faith in the future.
It was a celebration of the gift of life that was given to 670 children during the 20 years that the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit has been in operation, a tribute to the children and their families who have bravely waged the battle against cancer, and to all those, within and outside Greece, who have contributed to the realization of ELPIDA's aims:
· The establishment of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit
· The establishment of the ELPIDA Guest House
· The establishment of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit
· The twinning of the Oncology Unit with leading hospitals around the world
The President of ELPIDA, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, then presented a "Solidarity" Award to Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece, for the admirable social work he carries out and "International solidarity" Awards to international figures who share the visions and values advocated by ELPIDA, are allies in ELPIDA's struggle and believe in a better future.
"International Solidarity" Awards were presented to the Great Duchess of Luxembourg Maria Teresa for her contribution to intercultural dialogue; to Mrs. Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing, founder of the Foundation for the Protection of Childhood; to Federico Mayor, former General Director of UNESCO, for the dissemination of a Culture of Peace; to UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Kim Phuc Phan Thi for her campaign on behalf of children who are war victims; to heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub;to French Oncology Professor David Khayat;toTurkey's Ambassador to Greece Mr. Kerim Uras, for his contribution to the twinning program of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit with foreign hospitals; to Turkey's Health Minister Mr. Mehmet Muezzinoglou, for signing the collaboration accord between the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit and Ankara's Children's Hospital; to Canada's Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Robert Peck, for his contribution to the twinning of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit and Canada's Sick Kids Hospital; to the famous Argentine pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Miguel Angel Estrella, for the dissemination of music among children; to Greece's own great artist Nana Mouskouri for her contribution to ELPIDA; and to renowned composer Jean Michel Jarre.Jean-Michel Jarre reçoit un prix lors de la cérémonie Elpida à Athènes, le 16 octobre 2013 |
READ MORE: elpida.org
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