Hospital Opening
In the course of a modest ceremony held on 14 October 2010, His Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias opened the "Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit", His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece performed the blessing of the building complex and "ELPIDA", The Association of Friends of Children with Cancer fulfilled the promise it made to the Greek people to build the first state-of-the-art oncology hospital for children in Greece.
The
President of the Association and UNESCO Good Will Ambassador, Mrs. Marianna V.
Vardinoyannis could barely conceal her emotion
when she addressed those present, saying: "Three years ago, in April 2007, in this space which
was then a plot of land, laying the foundation stone for the first Oncology
Hospital for Children in our country we made a promise: that we would do
everything within our power to have this hospital built and in operation in the
shortest possible space of time, a hospital that for many children would
constitute their only hope for life. 
It
is with particular emotion today, on behalf of "ELPIDA", that I turn it over,
equipped and ready, to the parents and the children who need it. As I promised. It is my fervent wish that the hospital
becomes, for all the children who cross its threshold, a stepping-stone to
victory and I promise them that they will always find us at their side in their
most difficult fight, the fight for life…
As of today our country becomes stronger in the battle against
cancer. Because today we are handing
over to our homeland's new generation and the generations to come, a
state-of-the-art pediatric oncology unit, 14,911 square meters,
5 buildings and with a capacity of 138 beds, with the most up-to-date infrastructure,
with the most cutting-edge equipment that science and technology have to offer
and with the most experienced medical staff.
A place that will become a true bastion for all those children who will
need to fight for their life in it…"
With a warm round of applause, leading
figures from the worlds of literature and the arts, scientists, ministers and
former ministers, members of Parliament, ambassadors, distinguished members of
the business and social community, donors and friends as well as the members of
the Association, representatives of the mass media, children who have been
cured and their parents and many others who were there reiterated the "ELPIDA"
Association's deepest "credo" that: The life of just one child is worth
fighting for!
The
Minister of Health, Nutrition and Sports, Mr. Andreas Loverdos , was the first to address a warm greeting to those assembled:
"Instead of congratulations," said Mr. Loverdoz, addressing Mrs.
Vardinoyannis, "we owe you recognition, since all the cost and the efforts
were yours… 
With your magnificent
example you invite us to overcome the weaknesses we have as a State and to
support this work by providing high level health services and we will do so…"
As Deputy Minister for Education, Mrs. Fofi Gennimata, also extended warm greetings, pointing out that: "In the difficult circumstances in which our country finds itself, you, Mrs. Vardinoyannis, are handing over to the State a diamond, which is a model for all Europe. A jewel that will be able to give hope… Today is a day of joy and emotion… But nothing would have happened were it not for the guiding spirit - Mrs. Marianna Vardinogiannis - who mobilized and inspired everyone to support this work…"
Finally, Mr. Emmanouil Papasavas, Director of the "Aghia Sophia" Children's
Hospital, of which the "Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA Children's
Oncololgy Unit will form part both administratively and operationally,
declared: "Since 1993 Mrs. Vardinoyannis and the "ELPIDA" Association have
engaged in a dynamic battle to restore the health of children who suffer from
cancer and today they are turning over to us this edifice that is magnificent
in every respect… I promise that I
personally as well as the entire medical and nursing staff will make the most
of it. For one more time I would like to
thank Mrs. Vardinoyannis for her selfless contribution to suffering children
but also the fact that she herself contributed financially to covering a large
part of the cost of building the unit as well as the cost of supplies and
installation of the medical-technological equipment…"
After the blessing and the cutting of the
inauguration ribbon those present were taken on a guided tour of the new
hospital where they had the opportunity to ascertain for themselves what Mrs.
Vardinoyannis had emphasized in her talk a short time before: "… our criterion
in planning the hospital was the most modern scientific specifications and our
basic concern the protection of the sensitive childhood soul. So, in the hospital, the children's journey
towards their cure becomes a childhood voyage.
Every building is a different continent.
Every one of its corners a different country. With paintings and images of monuments and
child-friendly figures, we attempt a fairy tale that looks for ways to keep a
smile on their lips even in their darkest hours. This aesthetic approach and the way it is
rendered in the various areas of the hospital is considered a global first and
as far as we know there is nothing like it in the whole of Europe…"
Flattering comments, congratulations and
good wishes sealed this special day as the guests took their leave and once
again Mrs. Vardinoyannis found the opportunity to thank them for their backing
and support of the work of "ELPIDA" which completed 20 years of action this
year.
The official guests to the opening of the "MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS-ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit" were greeted by Mr. Vardis Vardinoyannis and his wife Marianna, while in order to be present at the inauguration the former First Lady of France Mme Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing, Professor David Khayat and his wife and Professor Andreas Tzakis arrived from France and the United States.
Also attending the event were the wife of
the Prime Minister, Mrs. Ada Papandreou, and the wife 
of the Leader of the
Opposition, Mrs. Georgia Samara, Ministers Giorgos Petalotis, Andreas Loverdos,
Yannis Ragoussis, Ioannis Diamantidis, Marilisa Xenogianakopoulou, Louka
Katseli, Christos Papoutsis, Deputy Ministers Fofi Gennimata, Panagiotis
Beglitis, Nikos Sifounakis, Under-Ministers Milena Apostolaki, Vassilis
Kegkeroglou, Anna Dalara with her husband Giorgos Dalaras, Christos Aidonis,
Manolis Othonas, Michalis Timosidis, the representative of the New Democracy
Party Marios Salmas and the President of
L.A.O.S. (People's Orthodox Rally) Mr. Giorgos Karatzaferis, the Mayor
of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis, Members of Parliament Dimitris Sioufas, Manolis
Kefalogiannis, Dora Bakogianni, Miltiadis Papaioanou, Prokopis Pavlopoulos,
Christos Protopapas, Athanasios Tsouras, Olga Kefalogianni and Akis
Tsochatzopoulos, the General Secretary of the Presidency of the Hellenic
Republic Constantinos Georgiou, their excellencies the ambassadors of
Azerbaijan, Egypt, Albania, France, Germany, Japan, Croatia, Cyprus,
Montenegro, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Serbia,
Sweden, Syria and Child, academicians Christos Zerefos, Constantinos Stefanis,
Grigoris Skalkeas, the Director, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, "Aghia Sophia"
Children's Hospital Dr. Stelios Grafakos, the Governor of the "Aglaia Kyriakou"
Children's Hospital Athanassios Binis, the honorary members of the "ELPIDA"
Association Irene Athanassiadou, Kostas Gitonas, Eleni Bistika, Fani
Palli-Petralia and Katy Sioufa, the donoros Spyros Metaxas and his daughter
Laura Metaxa, Pavlos Ioannidis and his wife, representing the "Alexander S.
Onassis" Foundation, Andreas Martinis, President of the Red Cross, Michalis
Sallas and his wife Sofia Staikou, Ilias Tsigkas, president of Mega Channel,
Polly Gioti, Leonidas Bobolas, Andronike Galliaki, Irene Zegkini and Theodora
Symvoulidou.
Also present were famous members of the
show business community: Nana Mouschouri with her husband Andre Chapelle, the
Messenger of "ELPIDA" Sakis Rouvas and his wife Katia Zygouli, Nonika Galinea,
Despina Vandi et al. Representing the
world of publishing were Nikos Hadzinikolaou with his wife Christie, Antonis
Lyberis with his wife Elena and Makis Kouris with his wife Angeliki.
The Vardinoyannis family was represented by Mr. Giannis V. Vardinoyannis with his wife Melissa, Mr. Nikos V. Vardinoyannis with his wife Alexia, Mr. Giorgos I. Vardinoyannis, Mr. Demosthenes Vardinogiannis and Mr. Pavlos Vardinoyannis with his wife Gina.
The entire board of directors of "ELPIDA" was there: Eleni Samara-Konstantakatou, Ino Konstantopoulou, Katy Metaxotou, Anna Papagianni, Viki Filippou, Katy Filippidou, Katy Voutsela, Melina Daskalaki, Ioanna Gelestathi, Dina Pritsiveli, Christina Tsatsaki, Georgina Ellina, Elly Tzanetatou and Elena Charlafti as well as many members of the "ELPIDA" Association: Zeta Antsakli and her husband Aris Antsaklis, Anna Panagiotarea, Annie Petraki, Olga Tremi, Beki Stravelaki, Dimitra Filippou, Lisa Evert, Veta Tsoukala, et al.
The coordinator of the event was the Vice-President of the European Parliament Mrs. Rodi Kratsa.
On the occasion of the inauguration the Academy of Athens announced that its renowned Foundation of Medical and Biological Research which disposes of the 29 th recognized umbilical cord-placenta blood bank, offers "ELPIDA" free of charge primary hematopoietic cells for transplantation.
