Tom Kokkoris comes home in aid of children with cancer
The village of Riechia, in the Monemvasia municipality, recently welcomed home Tom Kokkoris who is on a bicycle tour of three continents to raise funds for the Elpida (which is Greek for “hope”) Cancer Hospital for Children.
His fellow Greek-Australians – Tom has lived in Sydney since childhood – joined with vacationers and the citizens of Riechia and the surrounding Zarakas region to see him cycle into his home town at the end of the European leg of his trip that has taken in America, Portugal and Spain.
A welcoming ceremony was held on July 29 in the little theatre in the forecourt of the primary school where Tom began his first school year before his mother took him and his siblings to join their father in Australia. Over 500 people filled the theatre to hear Tom’s stories of his travels.
He has a personal interest in his cause, having lost members of his own family to cancer. His particular interest is in supporting hospitals that care for cancer patients, particularly children.
So far he has collected US$50,000 from diaspora Greeks and other supporters. A bank account (see below) has been opened in Greece to collect donations. The Monemvasia municipal council has made a donation of 1,000 euros. At the welcoming ceremony, the Riechia cultural association sold T-shirts for 10 euros each, the proceeds from the sale going to the Elpida hospital.
Donations may be made to the Elpida Association via the National Bank of Greece, account no. 080/480978-54 ΙΒΑΝ GR 3801100 8000000 8048097854
