A magical Christmas celebration with the true Santa Claus from Rovaniemi of Finland and the lighting of the most bright and optimistic Christmas tree, the Tree of Wishes, took place at the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” on Thursday December 21st 2022.
The President of the Association “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer” Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, wrote to her ornament “Wishes from my heart for health and love to all the children” and was placed in the center of the Tree of Wishes with all the other ornaments of the children, parents, members of ELPIDA Board of Directors and the medical, Administrative and nursing personnel.
Then, the Santa Claus arrived from the distant Rovaniemi with his ice-friend Frodi, the Christmas hero, bringing with him presents for all Units’ children who were impatiently waiting for him in the courtyard of unit or in the windows of their room!
The artificial snow that was falling on the Oncology Unit and the Christmas melodies of the Navy Band which were spreading from the one end to the other end of the Oncology unit were creating a unique Christmas atmosphere of joy and optimism giving strength to the children under treatment these holy days.
The most emotional moment was, when the little boy Vangelis who is treated in the Oncology Unit read with tears in his eyes a card that, he had wrote for Mrs. Vardinoyanis thanking her for all she has offered to the children saying that, the most precious Christmas gift is a hug!.
After that, the Cretan Dancers “Omilos Vrakoforon Critis” which supports all these years the Oncology Unit of Children, wearing their traditional costumes, song the most melodious Christmas Carol and danced Cretan dances flooding with Cretan melodies the Unit and scattering smiles to the young and other people!
The visit of the real Santa Claus was made into the frame of a series of celebration events and actions that, have been organized by the Social Service of the Association “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer” under the care of the responsible for the Social Service and Directress of “Gust House of ELPIDA”, Mrs. Anna Panagopoulou in view of the Christmas time so that, the children under treatment these days to be able to feel the magic of Christmas.
There were present in this warm event of love, the Administrator of Children’s Hospital “H Aghia Sofia” and “P. & A. Kyriakou”, Mr. Manolis Papasavvas, the wife of His Excellency, the Ambassador of Finland in Greece, Mrs. Anna Gustafsson, the Secretary General of the Association “ELPIDA”, Mrs. Tzortzina Ellina and the Members of the Association’s B.D., Mrs. Eleni Samara Konstantakatou and Melina Daskalaki and the members also of the medical, nursing and administrative personnel of the Oncologic Unit.
The real Santa Claus from Rovaniemi came and this year in Greece, as he is doing every year, invited by the Santa Claus Kingdom under the auspice of the Embassy of Finland. The real Santa Claus wished to all present Merry Christmas with health and said among others: “I am very happy when I am coming to Santa Claus Kingdom every year because I have the opportunity to visit the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA” and offer joy to the children. My wish is that, when I will come again next year, I will not find any child in the Hospital. All of them to be healed and celebrate Christmas with their families in their houses”.
We express our thanks to the Company “Luna Pak Aidonakia S.A.” and the Greek company of Board Games “Desyllas Games” for their kind offer of presents.
