CHARITY
8-month-old baby British Cypriot Saylor needs your help.
This is an urgent appeal to save Saylor an 8-month-old baby girl, with a Greek Cypriot grandfather. Saylor has been diagnosed with a very rare type of leukaemia called JMMl affecting only 1 in a million children. Her only hope is a stem cell transplant, we are desperately appealing to people aged 17 to 55 from the Greek Cypriot community and beyond to become a donor.
All it takes is a cheek swab which is simple and painless. Please register on-line today and order your swab kit at dkms.org.uk, you could be the match to save Saylor.
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer – those that affect the body’s bone marrow, blood or lymphatic system – such as leukaemia, myelome or lymphona. Yet, just 2% of the UK population is registered as potential blood stem cell donors. People from Cypriot, Greek and mixed ethnicity backgrounds are under-represented as donors.
Diversifying the register is extremely important to people from our community.
dkms.org.uk or scan the QR Code to register today.
Article written by London Greek Radio
London Cypriot Cancer Campaigner Dies Aged 32
Jo Georgiou, a young London Cypriot has died at the age of 32.
Jo passed away on 12th February after launching a public campaign against cancer and devoted her energy to raising awareness of her rare cancer diagnosis, fighting for changes to how patients are helped in terms of receiving the appropriate treatment.
Jo was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer in August 2021. After a year and a half of chemotherapy, surgery and other treatments, she sadly succumbed to the disease.
Synovial Sarcoma is a cancer that can come from different types of soft tissue such as muscle or ligaments. It is often found in the arm, leg or foot, and near joints such as the wrist or ankle. Only about 1 to 3 individuals in a million people are diagnosed with this disease each year. It can occur at any age, but it is more common among teenagers and young adults. The exact cause isn’t clear.
Speaking to London Greek Radio in 2021, Jo underlined the ethos of her campaigning work as absolutely vital in raising public awareness, because it was sometimes perceived as taboo, especially for young people.
Jo said that her aims were: “For synovial sarcoma to be spoken about and made aware of especially as so many people go undetected for years – and it’s very common in young people. For cancer to not be taboo… And for people knowing that nothing will prepare you for chemotherapy and I wish there was a help or guide, where people sit 1 to 1, relaying what is going to happen. What to be prepared for. And what benefits they’re entitled to. There are benefits cancer patients are entitled to that aren’t offered unless requested.”
Jo Georgiou shared her story with LGR about how her Instagram account would be helping people in similar circumstances, and to offer some reassurance.
She said, “I started an Instagram journey of my life since my diagnosis, and it is amazing that people contact me to inform me I’m helping them. It means so much to me. I’m helping people who have loved ones going through it, people just starting chemo, and people in remission. People who’ve got other health issues to , even mental health. It’s incredible what sort of platform it’s become. My Instagram following isn’t big by all means, but it feels like a community is forming on there. In my time, if I do anything, id love to form a handbook. A real handbook for patients about to start chemo who’ve just been diagnosed. From one real person who’s been through it, hand over everything to a newbie… the challenges they’ll face could be helped if I can just make them aware and prepare them for what’s going to happen.”
Jo grew up in Larnaca, Cyprus and moved to London in 2004. She attended East Barnet School where she achieved her GCSEs and A-levels. After leaving school, Jo worked her way up from a Retail Sales Assistant to an Area Manager.
She passed away at the North London Hospice surrounded by her loved ones. She leaves behind her mother, sister, extended family and friends. Her funeral service was held at Green Acres in Epping Forest on 27th February.
LGR extend their condolences to her family and friends and thank Jo for being a passionate, tireless campaigner and inspiration to others with her bravery and spirit.
Article written by London Greek Radio
A charity song has been recorded for Radiomarathon 2022, the annual children in need appeal in Cyprus.
The song, ‘I Leoforos Tis Zois’ is sung by Andros Andreou, with music by Stalo Georgiou and its lyrics by Vasilis Panayi, a presenter and producer at London Greek Radio.
Its musicians are Antonis Maestros, Nektarios Kouris (violin), Andros Andreou, Nektarios Kouris (lute), Andros Andreou (guitar), and Savvas Ignatius (piano).
The track was recently produced at Efthivoulos Theocharous Music Productions and its official music video was released earlier this month.
A Radiomarathon Centre is located in Enfield, North London, which helps young adults and children with learning difficulties, which has been supported by LGR over the years, in its fundraising activities.
For further information about the centre and its activities, radiomarathon.co.uk.
To find out more about Radiomarathon in Cyprus, head over to radiomarathonios.org.
LGR, the radio station you can trust, since 1989.
Article written by London Greek Radio
London Autism Group Charity is launching a drop-in autism community café for the Greek & Cypriot community
The London Autism Group Charity are launching a new drop-in autism community café scheme for the Greek and Greek Cypriot community of London, although all people from any background are welcome.
The community café will be at the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green every last Saturday of the month, at 11am-1pm. The charity is having the brief launch ceremony on 29th October at 10.45am where there will be time to meet the team, answer questions and take some photos.
The scheme is aimed at anyone with an interest or connection with autism and neurodiversity, including Autistics (of any age), parents, carers and allies. It is entirely free, with biscuits, cakes, drinks and sensory toys available, and no pre-registration required.
Regarding what the initiative is trying to achieve, Charity lead, and co-lead of this initiative, Dr Chris Papadopoulos said: “Up to now, there haven’t been any clear and regular opportunities for Greek Autistics – and the wider Greek community – to regularly come together in a safe, inclusive place so they can meet others, relax in a friendly and welcoming space, and, really importantly, feel less isolated. This is really important because autism isn’t something that is very openly discussed in the Greek community, the result of which can mean that autistic people feel misunderstood or rejected. So an initiative like this which has a clear focus on autism in the Greek community, and helps bring people together, can help with that.”
Ellie Kolatsi, a parent of an autistic child and co-lead of the initiative, said: “I am extremely excited to be involved in such a great initiative which is important to me and my family as my son is autistic. It is an opportunity for the Greek community who are autistic or carers of autistic people to connect with each other in a meaningful way. Our aim is to create a space for conversations to happen in a non-judgemental environment and where better than in the heart of our community, the Cypriot Community Centre. We are also fortunate to be able to share information and our experiences every first Thursday evening of the month on London Greek Radio who are also kindly supporting this initiative.”
Sophia Christophi, an autistic adult and co-lead of the initiative, said: “As a Greek Cypriot autistic adult, I have not had much opportunity to talk about autism within the community… until now! I am delighted to be part of this new initiative to help Greek and Greek Cypriots understand more about autism and to promote the social inclusion and acceptance of autistic people. It’s so important for people to have accurate information about autism, and we are fortunate to have a monthly All About Autism show on LGR where we will be discussing various autism-related topics. We extend our thanks to the Cypriot Community Centre for supporting the community café, which will be a great way of bringing people together.”
Dr Chris Papadopoulos – email: [email protected], tel: 07719021766
London Autism Group Charity – email: [email protected], website: londonautismgroupcharity.org
Article written by London Greek Radio
UKTS’ celebrates International Thalassaemia Day 2022
On Sunday 8th May 2022, Grovelands Park in North London turned red by a sea of supporters who came to celebrate the charity’s work and raise awareness of the genetic blood condition Thalassaemia.
The 5km fun-run was initially planned to be a small local event to celebrate International Thalassaemia Day and it quickly exceeded expectations as interest grew. The event was also extended to the global population following requests from loved ones and colleagues aboard all wanting to support the charity’s work.
The day was enjoyed by over 300 supporters in the sunshine with over 100 signed up to run or walk.
Globally, it was supported by over 30 countries with participants opting to wear red, complete the distance and provide pictures of themselves which they proudly shared on social media platforms with the hopes of raising awareness and much needed funds.
Patrons Peter Polycarpou and Kypros Kyprianou together with Bambos Charalambous, MP for Enfield Southgate and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Thalassaemia not only supported the event but also participated by running the 5Km themselves!
They were joined at the starting line by Michael Yiakoumi (Parikiaki), Katerina Neocleous (London Greek Radio) Gabriel Theophanous (UKTS Chair), team members and supporters of the society.
The passion, commitment, and support of all the volunteers, supporters and the team were nothing short of amazing. UKTS received over £12,000.00 in donations, sponsorship and funds raised by patrons, volunteers, staff and supporters.
Due to the event’s success, many have requested that the UKTS make it an annual 5K!
Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the production of haemoglobin in red blood cells.
If you’re a carrier of Thalassaemia, it means that you carry one of the faulty genes that cause Thalassaemia, but you do not have the condition yourself.
Being a carrier is sometimes known as having the ‘Thalassaemia trait’ or having ‘Thalassaemia minor’.If you carry Thalassaemia, you will never develop the condition, but you may sometimes experience mild anaemia. This is because your red blood cells are smaller than usual. However, if you and your partner are both carriers, there is a 25% chance in each pregnancy that the baby can inherit a severe form of Thalassaemia necessitating life-long blood transfusions and a daily rigorous treatment plan.
The NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia screening programme tests all pregnant women in England for Thalassaemia; however, you can choose to get tested at any time.
Finding out your carrier status is simple and all it takes is a blood sample.
Anyone can be a carrier of Thalassaemia, but it’s much more common in people from certain ethnic backgrounds.
Thalassaemia mainly affects people who are from, or who have family members originally from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, South-east Asia, the Caribbean and South America.
UKTS recommends knowing you and your partner’s Thalassaemia carrier status.
Article written by London Greek Radio
Urgent Appeal for Stem Cell Donors
The families of four blood cancer patients have joined forces with the Leukaemia Cancer Society to urgently appeal for more people of Greek or Cypriot origin to register as stem cell donors.
All four patients need stem cell transplants to save their lives.
Enfield Recruitment Drive, on behalf of The Leukaemia Cancer Society on Saturday 26th March between 10pm-2pm.
Cockfosters FC, Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, Barnet EN4 9HZ
If you are aged between 16-to-55-year-olds have a simple cheek swab taken.
Please step forward, there aren’t many Greeks and Cypriots on the register and for that reason a number of individuals haven’t found a match so far. If you can’t get there, you can have a kit sent to your home. It’s so easy and takes next to no time.
There is nothing to fear, it is just a cheek swab, so nothing too intrusive. After two years of lateral flows and PCRs, a gentle cheek swab is nothing to worry about.
If you can, please do your part to help.
All nationalities welcome. You never know who you could be a match for! A simple cheek swab could save a life.
For more details contact The Leukaemia Cancer Society on 020 8374 4821 or 07872 633 508.
https://www.leukaemiacancersociety.org/become-donor
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer – those that affect the body’s bone marrow, blood or lymphatic system – such as leukaemia, myelome or lymphona. Yet, just 2% of the UK population is registered as potential blood stem cell donors. People from Cypriot, Greek and mixed ethnicity backgrounds are under-represented as donors.
Diversifying the register is extremely important to people from our community.
“We do wish more people would come forward; we do need a lot more Greek-Cypriot people. We are greatly under-represented on the register. The Mediterranean community is only a very small percentage of the British registry, a very small percentage. So, we need to do whatever we can to increase that and to make the register more diverse.” (Androulla Stylianou, Co-Ordinator, The Leukaemia Cancer Society).
Urgent Stem Cell Transplant Needed to Save 24-Year-Old
(Click above article to learn about Alex and his search for a life-saving donor).
Article written by London Greek Radio
Stem Cell donation drive for Cypriot man
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston upon Thames, recruitment drive, on behalf of DKMS on Sunday 6th March between 10:30am to 2:30pm.
If you are aged between 17-to-55-year-olds have a simple cheek swab taken.
Please step forward, there aren’t many Greek Cypriots like Zac Zacharia on the register and for that reason Zac hasn’t found a match so far. If you can’t get there, you can have a kit sent to your home. It’s so easy and takes next to no time. This simple swab could save Zac’s life.
There is nothing to fear, it is just a cheek swab, so nothing too intrusive. After two years of lateral flows and PCRs, a gentle cheek swab is nothing to worry about.
“Back in August 2021 we were shocked to learn that one of our Community Members Zac Zacharia was rushed to hospital after falling unwell. After extensive tests Zac was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Zac urgently needs a blood stem cell transplant to save his life.” (Source: St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston upon Thames)
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Borough Road, Kingston, KT2 6BD.
If you can, please do your part to help.
Article written by London Greek Radio
Barnet Recruitment Drive, on behalf of The Leukaemia Cancer Society on Friday 10th December between 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
If you are aged between 16-to-55-year-olds have a simple cheek swab taken.
Please step forward, there aren’t many Greeks/Cypriots like Alex of mixed heritage (half English and half Greek) on the register and for that reason Alex hasn’t found a match so far. If you can’t get there, you can have a kit sent to your home. It’s so easy and takes next to no time. This simple swab could save Alex’s life.
Southgate Hockey Club, Snakes Lane, EN4 0PS (Off Bramley Road)
If you can, please do your part to help.
It’s Alex’s last chance to live and at 24 he totally deserves that chance.
https://www.leukaemiacancersociety.org/become-donor
Urgent Stem Cell Transplant Needed to Save 24-Year-Old (Article)
Article written by London Greek Radio
Alex Nicholson, 24 years-old, of English-Greek origin, urgently needs a lifesaving stem cell transplant to treat his blood cancer.
Alex was 18-years-old when he was diagnosed with a blood cancer called Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 4B on April 8th, 2016, but began feeling unwell around 5 months before the official diagnosis.
He was a music technology student at Palmers College, USP College in Grays, Essex, and was studying for his exams when he was diagnosed and began treatment.
Now 24-years-old, Alex, from Basildon, Essex, has been battling his Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for five years and has sadly relapsed six times after two failed stem cell transplants, a trial drug failure and endless chemotherapy sessions.
Alex undertook chemotherapy sessions and received the first stem cell transplant in November 2016 using his own cells.
There was only a 50 per cent chance that using his own stem cells would work and devastatingly, it didn’t.
Alex then relapsed in January 2017 and the cancer returned. The consultants contacted the register for stem cell donors but were unable to find a match for Alex.
The keen musician continued with his chemotherapy treatment until June 2017 and received his mum’s stem cells, with only a 50 per cent chance that it would work.
Sadly, his mum’s stem cells also failed.
Alex’s mum, Debbie Nicholson, 48, said: “He’s been through his cancer journey for the last 5 years. Alex was studying at college, he was studying music technology, throughout his treatment had home exams, he’s been able to do on-line help with his coursework, with his colleagues and his tutors. And he was able to get a very good mark, even though he was going through treatment. Alex has had two stem cell transplants, which is a little procedure that could give someone the chance of life. It’s collecting stem cells out of your blood, so it’s not anything to do with organs or anything like that, it’s just what your blood makes that the patient you match to, potentially be able to save their life”.
But sadly, the treatments failed to work and Alex’s cancer returned for a fourth time.
Then on January 27 last year, Alex was given a trial drug aimed at helping cure his cancer, but after three days, he became unwell and the drug didn’t work.
He went through a year of remission from June 2020 to August 2021 and recently Alex was told by his consultant that his Hodgkin’s lymphoma has returned and is sadly incurable.
Sarah Mallick, Fundraiser and Administrator at The Leukaemia Cancer Society told LGR, “This young man has spent nearly a quarter of his life battling blood cancer; he’s only 24 now. He was first diagnosed when he was 18. He has his whole life ahead of him, but he’s really running out of options and so we desperately need to find a stem cell donor for him as soon as possible.”
Alex is of English and Greek heritage and may need to rely on donors of mixed heritage to donate their stem cells as he has already had two failed transplants.
If someone is also half English and half Greek, like Alex, there would be a better chance of a tissue match to potentially cure him.
Androulla Stylianou, Co-ordinator at the charity told LGR’s Wish, “And because Alex is of mixed heritage Greek and English, the likelihood is that it’s someone from that heritage that will match him. But that does not mean that we don’t want just fully Greek people on the register, also English people. Because the match could be anybody Greek, English, or a mixture of the both. So we’re appealing to that group of people. This is Alex’s last chance. He has no other chance unless he finds a stem cell donor soon.”
There is a desperate need for stem cell and bone marrow donors, which could help save people’s lives – including Alex.
Sarah Mallick said, “And people might think a stem cell transplant, involves an operation, but actually for most people, it’s bit like a long version of giving blood. So it’s a matter of giving up a few hours at a hospital, and perhaps getting a bit bored and feeling a bit tired. But for the opportunity that you might be able to save a life.”
Androulla explained, “Whatever is taken from the donor that hopefully that we find goes on to a separator machine, and blood is taken from one hand, goes through the machine, where they take the cells that they need for the patient, and then it goes back through the other hand. So nothing is really taken and the cells that are taken are replenished, within a couple of days, so there is no risk to the donor.”
It’s easy to register as a donor, by going to The Leukaemia Cancer Society’s website, you can register to become a donor. After registering, a swab will be sent to you, where you swab inside your mouth and send it back to the charity.
If you’re a match, you’ll receive a call on how to give your stem cell or bone marrow – and it could save someone’s life.
Androulla Stylianou told Tony Neophytou’s Wish programme, “It is a very, very easy procedure, and your giving someone a chance of life. Alex is hanging on waiting for that last chance, waiting for the match to come forward. So, the more people that register, then greater the possibility of finding a donor for Alex.”
“It was an appeal for John Triteous that we heard and we went forward to give blood, and join the register ourselves. And that is what inspired, the Leukaemia Cancer Society to recruit Mediterranean donors, Greek-Cypriot, Turkish-Cypriot, to help save lives.
“It was a radio appeal which inspired the creation of The Leukaemia Cancer Society, and LGR actually.”
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer – those that affect the body’s bone marrow, blood or lymphatic system – such as leukaemia, myelome or lymphona. Yet, just 2% of the UK population is registered as potential blood stem cell donors. People from Cypriot, Greek and mixed ethnicity backgrounds are under-represented as donors.
Diversifying the register is extremely important to people from our community.
“We do wish more people would come forward, we do need a lot more Greek-Cypriot people. We are greatly under-represented on the register. The Mediterranean community is only a very small percentage of the British registry, a very small percentage. So we need to do whatever we can to increase that and to make the register more diverse.”
“We are a very generous community, we are a giving people, a loving people; I think it’s just that people are unaware how simple a procedure it is. And maybe that deters them from coming forward. It is a very, very simple procedure that takes not too long at all of your time and a procedure that can potentially save a life of a young 24-year-old.”
For more information on how to become a donor, click here.
Or for more information on the charity, click here.
Alternatively, you can contact Androulla from Leukaemia Cancer Society on 07872 633508 or 020 8374 4821 for more details.
Article written by London Greek Radio
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, have compiled useful support information for our UK Cypriot diaspora and Cypriot nationals currently in the UK. This initiative is also supported by the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus.
We will continue to update this page, so if you know a service that we should be including please let us know, by email: [email protected]. Also, subscribe to our mailing by clicking here to get our regular updates.
London Greek Radio – working together with partners, businesses and organisations to support our communities.
Shopping/delivery support
If you are elderly, or vulnerable, and need help getting food or essential supplies, email us at [email protected], or call us on 0208 4459999. We will put you in touch with a team of young volunteers, organised by NEPOMAK UK, who can help you.
Areas covered include North, Central & East London; Manchester; Canterbury; Colchester; Glasgow; Hertfordshire; Ipswich; Harlow; Bury St Edmunds Newmarket; Red Lodge; Kentford; Stansted; Bishop’s Stortford; Saffron Walden; Harlow; Buntingford; Hertford; Birchanger; and Newport. These areas depend on volunteer availability, so may increase as we find more volunteers. Please do check back if you cant see your area on the list.
More HERE
Article written by London Greek Radio
