Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, accompanied by the Serbian Ambassador to Greece, HE Mr. Dragan Zupanjevac and his spouse Borjana, visited the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis- ELPIDA” to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Serbian “Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Dr. Vukan Cupic” and the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V.Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA.”

Also present at the event was the Greek Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis.

The President of the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer “ELPIDA” Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, welcomed and thanked them for their interest and their support for ill children and their families.

During his speech Minister Georgiadis said: “Mrs. Vardinoyannis it is a miracle what you have you achieved here! Only pride can feel someone watching what has been done here. On behalf of the Greek Government I would like to thank you and all the employees. This is the good face of Greece which we should show. In these difficult times of crisis we can move our country forward, and give hope again! Here we have a hospital that has excellent personnel with the best education and the environment has nothing less from any other hospital all over the world, while children receive so much love from everyone. It is a small miracle! Thank you and as far as I am concerned as Minister of Health, I will be 24 hours of the day available when I can be a helper to make this miracle even more. Thank you for this emotion you have given us. Thank you very much.”

Mrs. Vardinoyannis warmly thanked the Minister for his kind words and the intention to contribute to the work of the hospital, and gave him a commemorative gift on behalf of the Association “ELPIDA.”

Subsequently, Mrs Vardinoyannis addressed the Crown Prince and Princess of Serbia and expressed her emotion for their presence in the hospital, since they have watched and supported the work of the Association “ELPIDA” for many years and also because the Association “ELPIDA” and the “Foundation Marianna V. Vardinoyannis” all these years have a special and close relationship with the children of Serbia – in difficult times for the country both of the organisations took care to send humanitarian aid to children – victims of war and later created the kindergarten” Athena” in the  Zemun municipality of Belgrade.

“It is a great honor for us here today,  Mrs. Vardinoyannis said, and your desire to seal our friendship with the signing of A Memorandum of Cooperation between the “Mother and Child Health Care Institute” in Serbia and our hospital. … Our countries worked together many times in the past and I believe that through our current agreement they will develop a very strong alliance in the field of health. 

I would like to express our most heartfelt thanks for your good will and your valuable contribution to our efforts for children. It is not the first time you visit us. I remember with emotion how warm was your visit to Elpida Guest House a few years ago and how consistent and persistent is your presence with us in every initiative we take.

The humanitarian work that you are doing through the organisation “Lifeline Hellas