The President of the “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer”, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, welcomed beloved artist Michalis Hatzigiannis, declaring him “2019-2021 Artist for Hope”.
Michalis Hatzigiannis visited the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” Children’s Oncology Unit on Tuesday, 4 June 2019, and was briefed in detail about the great contribution of “ELPIDA” in the battle against childhood cancer, and he met young patients of the Unit who offered him their handmade artwork.
Immediately afterwards, in a simple ceremony attended by the Director of “Agia Sofia” and “P&A KYRIAKOU” Children’s Hospitals, Mr. Manolis Papasavvas, members of the Board of Directors of the “ELPIDA” and “VISION OF HOPE” Associations, and doctors and nurses, Mrs. Vardinoyannis awarded Michalis Hatzigiannis the Honorary Plaque of ELPIDA and named him “2019-2021 Artist for Hope.”
“Through your presence at our Oncology Unit, you give great joy and encouragement to the entire “ELPIDA” family, to the children and their parents, to our members, and to the hospital’s medical and nursing staff; and you give us great courage, as you wished to join our battle and to help in our work. Work which marks 30 years of constant effort, ambitious goals and great visions; steps forward that changed the healthcare landscape in our country in such a sensitive area. And all this, to save the children.
We welcome you as an important ally and friend of our Association and at the same time as a talented Greek artist who at every invitation on our part stood by our side and contributed to our objectives with your magical voice and energy,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis said, among other things.
Touched, Michalis Hatzigiannis stressed that his being named “Artist for Hope” is a great honour for him, and he committed himself to supporting the Association in every possible way. “I stand with you in this battle you are waging. I hope that music and song will provide hope to all children!” the famous artist characteristically stated.
Subsequently, Michalis Hatzigiannis placed a star bearing his name on the “Wall of Stars” of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit, among the other names of major supporters of ELPIDA. The title “Artist for Hope” is one of the most important titles of the “ELPIDA” Association and it is granted for two years to distinguished artists who have the gift, the will, and the dynamism to promote the ideals and the objectives of “ELPIDA” and to raise public awareness on issues pertaining to children and adolescents suffering from blood disorders and cancer.