The façade of the Greek Parliament was illuminated in the colors of the “Vision of Hope” Association (Όραμα Ελπίδας) to mark World Bone Marrow Donor Day, with Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis sending his own message of support and solidarity. “I call on all Greeks, all young men and women, to support this cause. Providing a bone marrow sample is an absolutely simple process. This simple act could one day save a child’s life,” the Speaker of Parliament said during his Tuesday afternoon visit (22/09) to the information booth set up at Syntagma Square by the “Vision of Hope” Association.
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Kaklamanis: The Greek Parliament celebrates World Bone Marrow Donor Day alongside “Elpida”
The Speaker of Parliament praised the Association’s initiatives, stating: “I want you to know that we were, are, and will remain by your side in whatever this remarkable Association needs — an organization founded many years ago by an inspiring woman, Marianna Vardinoyannis.”
“Congratulations to all of you who have succeeded her and continue, honoring her memory, with this noble, profoundly meaningful, and above all practically effective work that saves the lives of children and adults alike,” Mr. Kaklamanis added.
The Speaker of Parliament also emphasized that “today the Greek Parliament joins ‘Elpida’ in celebrating World Bone Marrow Donor Day.” On this occasion, he reminded those present that he is himself a registered bone marrow donor and organ donor, holding the corresponding donor card, while calling on all Greeks to become part of this vital effort.
Nikitas Kaklamanis was welcomed by Thanasis and Christiana, two young volunteer bone marrow donors, along with the Vice President of the Elpida Association, Ms. Nouli Manoli; the Vice President of the “Vision of Hope” Association and President of the Children’s Oncology Hospital “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Elpida,” Mr. Manolis Papasavvas; the Secretary General of the “Vision of Hope” Association, Ms. Ino Konstantopoulou; and the Scientific Director of the Association, Mr. Stelios Grafakos.
The Secretary General of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Vasileios Bagiokos, was also present at the visit.
Greek Parliament illuminated for World Bone Marrow Donor Day
In this spirit, the Hellenic Parliament honored the priceless “gift” of volunteer bone marrow donors by illuminating the façade of its building in the colors of the “Vision of Hope” Association. The lighting took place in recognition of World Bone Marrow Donor Day, which is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of September.
The thought that a donor gives hope for tomorrow to a stranger or a relative — a young child or an adult — suffering from blood cancer or other hematological diseases, cannot leave any compassionate person unmoved.
Guided by this noble ideal of giving to others, the Hellenic Parliament actively supports the initiatives of the “Vision of Hope” Association, with the goal of raising public awareness about the importance of voluntary hematopoietic stem cell donation.
At regular blood donation drives organized by the Parliamentary Employees Association, many staff members learn about bone marrow donation and enthusiastically respond to the call to become donors themselves.
The mission of the “Vision of Hope” Association
The “Vision of Hope” Association is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 by the late Marianna V. Vardinoyannis. It represents another vital link in the chain of medical, psychological, and social care provided by the “ELPIDA — Friends of Children with Cancer” Association. The Association is currently presided over by Christiana V. Vardinoyannis, who continues her mother’s work with the same dedication and passion.
The “Vision of Hope” Association’s activities extend not only to children, but also to adults who require bone marrow transplants and are searching for a compatible donor to reclaim their lives.
Since its founding, the Association has successfully registered 207,000 new volunteer donors in the National and International Registry, of whom 537 have been found compatible and have donated to an equal number of patients in Greece and abroad. The Association operates across Greece through a network of 318 partner centers.
These encouraging figures and the Association’s ongoing work have fundamentally transformed the landscape of voluntary hematopoietic stem cell and bone marrow donation in Greece — lifting the country from the bottom of international rankings in the past to now placing it firmly among the top ten countries worldwide in voluntary bone marrow donation.
