Three important agreements for raising the awareness of the Greek society with regard to voluntary bone-marrow donation and the registration of new volunteer donors were signed by the President of the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, with three strong new allies: the Hellenic Cancer Federation, the Northern Suburbs Club for UNESCO and the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, on Thursday, 7 March 2019.
During the event held at the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” Paediatric Oncology Hospital for the signing of the Memoranda of Cooperation, Mrs Vardinoyannis welcomed the President of the Hellenic Cancer Federation, Mrs Kaiti Apostolidou, the President of the Northern Suburbs Club for UNESCO, Mrs Marina Patouli, the General Secretary of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, Mr Nektarios Halvatzis, and members of the three associations, noting in her speech: “Today is a very important day for us, as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Volunteer Bone Marrow Transplant Bank, with three more major allies joining our efforts. Three outstanding associations, from three different areas – culture, education, sports, as well as health volunteering – whose work will converge towards one great humanitarian cause: the gift of life to our fellow human beings in need. There is no greater contribution and expression of solidarity than your participation in this endeavour”.
After the signing of the memorandum, the President of the Hellenic Cancer Federation, Mrs Kaiti Apostolidou, noted: “This signing today fills us with joy and emotion. We are truly very proud to be cooperating with an association like ELPIDA and ORAMA ELPIDAS, which have contributed so significantly in the battle against cancer. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the certification of the Hospital as a Center of Excellence, unique in Greece. My wish is that more hospitals in our country will follow suit”.
The President of the Northern Suburbs Club for UNESCO, Mrs Marina Patouli, on her part, promised to contribute in any way she can in the effort to increase the number of volunteer donors in our country: “From this day onwards we join hands and forces to actively contribute in raising the awareness of our fellow citizens with regard to the voluntary donation of bone marrow. We make the commitment that we will support you in your important work with all our forces”.
The General Secretary of the Hellenic Volleyball Association, Mr Nektarios Halvatzis, underlined the importance of the work performed by the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association. “We are champions in the court and aspire to become champions in the voluntary donation of bone marrow. However, you are the true champions because you offer the most valuable commodity, life itself”.
Immediately after that, the representatives from all three associations, each placed a star on the “ELPIDA Wall of Stars”, to symbolise their support for the work of the ELPIDA and ORAMA ELPIDAS Associations.
The event was also attended by the Vice-president of the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Associations and Director of the “Agia Sofia” and “P&A Kyriakou” Children’s Hospitals, Manolis Papasavvas, the General Secretary of the Association, Mrs Ino Konstantopoulou, the Scientific Director of the Bone Marrow Bank, Dr. Stelios Grafakos and members of the Board of the Association.
