Internationally renowned designer Ms. Mary Katrantzou visited the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit on Thursday, 21 March 2019.

Ms. Katrantzou was received by the President of the “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with Cancer,” Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the Director of “Agia Sofia” and “P&A Kyriakou” Children’s Hospitals, Mr. Manolis Papasavvas, as well as members of the Boards of Directors of “ELPIDA” and “VISION OF HOPE.”

Greeting Ms. Katrantzou, Mrs. Vardinoyannis thanked her for her initiative to visit the children of “ELPIDA,” stressing the great importance of this visit: “I truly feel proud that we are welcoming an important Greek woman today. A young, talented and charismatic young lady who followed her dreams, dared to create, was recognised internationally in a short period of time, and indeed in a very difficult and competitive field as is the world of fashion, who finds herself at the top at the moment.  Her creations reveal a colourful internal world full of light.  A deep love for and pride in Greece and its culture, as is evidenced by the patterns she uses and the wonderful images from ancient Greek masterpieces that are one of the key sources of inspiration for her.  Her example becomes a source of support for our country’s young people, her kindness a source of support for the children of our Hospital.”

Wishing to thank Ms. Katrantzou for her willingness to support the work of “ELPIDA,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis awarded her with an honorary plaque of the Association.

Moved, Ms. Katrantzou received the honorary plaque from Mrs. Vardinoyannis, stressing what a great honour her presence at the Children’s Oncology Unit was for her.  At the same time, she committed to supporting the work of the Association in every possible way.

Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Ms. Katrantzou placed on the “ELPIDA Wall of Stars” a Star bearing Ms. Katrantzou’s name, while immediately afterwards, they had the opportunity to speak at length about joint actions for supporting “ELPIDA.”

Subsequently, Ms. Katrantzou was given a tour of the Children’s Oncology Unit and was briefed in detail by doctors and nurses on the Unit’s work, the contribution of the “ELPIDA” Association, as well as the work of the “VISION OF HOPE” Association.  Showing her support to the Association’s work in practice, Ms. Katrantzou herself became a bone marrow donor.