The Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association held an awareness concert on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its foundation.
The event was successfully held on September 20, 2023, at the Municipal Theatre of Korydallos “Thanasis Vengos” with the musical band “48 Ores”, in the context of the campaign “Breath Unlimited – Be a life donor”, which the Association has launched since 2020 with the support of the President of the Republic.
The concert was held under the auspices of the National Transplantation Organisation, the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre and the Municipality of Korydallos and started with messages of support from the President of the Republic and the Minister of Health.
The President of Hellenic Republic, Mrs.Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in her message, among others, says that “I am aware of the fight of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, so that those who suffer from the disease in our country have early access to the revolutionary treatment that can stop the symptoms of the disease, preventing the destruction of the organs of the body and especially of the lungs… Organ donation is an act of love and social solidarity, an act that multiplies life. I assure you that you I support you in the effort to inform and raise awareness in all the steps of your difficult struggle.”
The Greek Minister of Health, Mr. Michalis Chrysochoidis, congratulated the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association “for the initiative and the struggles that it is giving with dignity and vigour for the benefit of patients with Cystic Fibrosis”. At the same time, he pointed out that the coordinated efforts of the Hellenic Transplant Organization (EOM) and the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association contributed to the significant increase in the number of organ donors in Greece, stating the commitment of the Greek Ministry of Health to cooperate with the Association and the Greek CF community “through a fruitful dialogue and after listening to the needs to ensure high quality and level of health services.”
During the event, the video of the second mural at Tzaneio Hospital was shown, created by the Association in collaboration with the street artist “Hambas”, depicting the only Greek CF patient who has two successful lung transplants.
Support messages for the Association and CF patients were also expressed by the Presidents of the Hellenic Transplant Organization (EOM), Onassis Foundation and Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center (OCSC), and he Manager of the General Hospital “Tzaneio”.
The President of the Onassis Foundation, Mr. Antonis Papadimitriou, referred to the mural at the Tzaneio Hospital created by the Association with the support of the Onassis Foundation, emphasizing that “the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association stands in this way as an ally in the national initiative of the Onassis Foundation for organ donation and transplantation, which will be culminated with the creation of the Onassis National Transplant Centre in 2024.”
The President of EOM, Professor George Papatheodoridis, thanked “the very active association for the continuous effort and all the actions and campaigns towards improving the situation of the transplantation field”, emphasizing the efforts of EOM for continuous development, improvement of the transplantation system and increase of organ donation in our country.
The President of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Professor Mr. Ioannis Boletis, stated that “OCSC is actively on the side of CF patients and their families and ensures- through transplantation- breath unlimited for CF patients”.
The Governor of the General Hospital of Piraeus “Tzaneio”, Mr. Elias Gouzouasis, expressed “warm congratulations for the effort made by the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association” and “joy for our the contribution to the effort of the Association, with the creation of the mural”.
During the music event it was very touching the moment when children from the Municipality of Korydallos presened the banner they created for CF patients and their balloons sending far away the wish for Breath Unlimited.
The music band “48 Ores” with great energy turned the event into an interactive party of joy and optimism spreading the message of CF patients for Breath Unlimited.
During the music event, the audience had the opportunity to be informed for Cystic Fibrosis and organ donation and get souvenir gifts.
The President of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, Mrs Anna Spinou stated: “The evening of the music event will be unforgettable for all of us! It was a celebration for CF patients, who have suffered so much and we are finally managing to have breath unlimited through innovative treatments or through lung transplantation. During the music events we celebrated the 40th anniversary of our Association, which through our volunteer work in collaboration with our doctors, our patients and their parents have managed to improve our lives. We celebrated the hope and the optimism that is born by spreading our message of Breath Unlimited and 2nd chance in life. We continue with will and strength to carry on the hard work we have undertaken for four decades for a better life for CF patients and their families. We would like to thank everyone who attended our concert and those who celebrated with us online from their homes. We thank once again the President of Hellenic Republic, the Greek Minister of Health, the Presidents of EOM, Onassis Foundation and OCSC, the Manager of Tzaneio Hospital, the Mayor of Korydallos, the music band “48 Ores”, our sponsors and supporters for their support of the struggle of CF patients.”
The music band “48 Ores” said that “We are really grateful that we were given the opportunity to participate in the great effort of communication of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association with the general public. Knowing the people of the association personally and having been informed about their difficult work, 48 ORES promises that from now on we will always be at the side of the Association in all its future activities. Courageous persons full of faith in their daily struggle, gathered together with their optimism as a weapon and art as an ally. Among them there were people who attended a celebration of music and be awared about the disease for the first time. A great celebration is the greatest motivation to be united all together. A great celebration gave to people of all ages the opportunity to receive information about the most common genetic disease and prenatal screening. A big celebration succeeded in raising awareness of organ donation. We hope that every struggle is a victory for you and that it is like this celebration.”
The music events was held under the Auspices of the National Transplantation Organisation, the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre and the Municipality of Korydallos.
Major Sponsor: Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Bronze Sponsor: Gilead Sciences
Donor: Motor Oil
Media Sponsors: Life Valley, News4Health, TheDailyHeath, HealthWeb
The live streaming video of the event.
