Hearts of Gold Cyprus 2016 Nominees

[bejay]

Congratulations to all of the nominees for this year's Hearts of Gold Awards !

The ceremony (invitation only) for the annual Heart of Gold Awards Cyprus will take place at Palia Ilektriki on Friday December 9, 2016, at 12 noon.

The winners will be revealed and presented by the patron, Marios Joannou Elia, British Vice Consul, Christina Smith, Mayor of Paphos Phedonas Phedonos, Maria Zavrou and Satiya Singh.

Four awards will be given: The junior and adult Heart of Gold Award 2016, The Jasmitha Award for Courage and the Heart of Gold Lifetime achievement award.

In the adult section, nominees include : 94 year old Kyriakou Stylianou, who has selflessly dedicated her life to others, Anastasia Chapidou Chrysomilou who donated her kidney, Helen Paraskeva for her charity work, Heather Brown for her contribution to The Paphos Kidney Association, Cathi Delaney for the Tala welfare centre, and Maria Kyriakides of Europa Donna.

Panikos Chrysanthou, a PASYKAF bus driver for his kindness, Dikla Smith and Mikka Heaney for their Gift of Love appeal, Gaynor Georgiou for her care of stray cats, Dave Metcalf for his kids programme- ‘Re-Cycle Bikes 4 Christmas’ and Marina Netsvetaeva for her campaign “Tidy Cyprus”.
Glenn Cairns has been put forward for his courage, Mona Skordi for her work at Archangel Michael Hospice; the hospice staff and hospice shop volunteers have also been nominated.

Hilda Georgiou is being considered for her fortitude, the ‘PASYKAF volunteer cancer support facilitators’, as well as PASYKAF staff and volunteers and Rachel Granger-Christou for her dedication to her patients and palliative care.

Dawn Foote and Linda Bulmer have been nominated for their volunteering at Tala Monastery cats, Christiana Mouzouri and Elena Daniel of Peace2Peace and the Cyprus Association of Retired Police Officers, for their charity and welfare work.
The Friends hospice staff and volunteers for their support of cancer patients and Father Carlos Ferrera for his devotion to refugee families.

Matthew Harris and Peter Hamilton for their care of unwanted dogs, and Maggie Wright for her initiative to clean up Cyprus of litter.
The Zingers are being considered for fundraising and the Margarita Liasidou foundation for their support of the disabled. Ivy Gibson has been nominated for her hundreds of knitted charity blankets and the Paphos branch of the Cyprus Red Cross Society for their unwavering support of those in need.

Alan and Barbara Wilson have been nominated for setting up M.A.R.C.H – military and retired Cyprus holiday for heroes and the Peyia Remembrance service.


Nominated in the junior section are: Zoe Dhull 3, Sham Al Habrat, 10, Stella Kafa 9, Tatiana Demurcheva ,16, Victor Vedenkov, 13, William Cairns, 11, Elias Hoy 16, and Shichen Liu (Iris) 18.
Also nominated in the junior section is Georgina Moakler, 13, Olga Moiseenkova, 17, Owen Beazley, 17, Liam Smith, 11, Cristian Dinu, 8 and Charlotte Locke aged 11.

These youngsters have either shown dedication, determination or courage, are coping with serious illness, undertaking volunteering for charity or are excellent role models to others.

Special mentions are also being given this year to two people. The late Brenda Thomason, for her dedication and support of various charities in Paphos, as well as the British and Cyprus Guides. Rehab Al Habrat is also being thanked for her ongoing help, comfort and guidance of refugees in Paphos.

www.heartsofgoldcyprus.com

[Memory man]

Life-giving and courage has no age limit in Hearts of Gold


The winners, from left to right: Anastasia Chapidou Chrysomilou, Kyriakou Stylianou, Satiya Singh, Sham Al Habrat, Patron Marios Joannou Elia, Christina Smith and William Cairns

A SELFLESS life-giving act and a courageous young boy were awarded this year’s ‘Hearts of Gold Cyprus’, at a ceremony held at Palia Ilektriki cultural centre in Paphos on Friday.

The Jasmitha Award for Courage and the Heart of Gold Lifetime Achievement Award, were also announced by Patron Marios Joannou Elia, at a packed ceremony.

In all, the names of more than 30 adults and organisations and 15 children were nominated for this year’s awards.

Anastasia Chapidou Chrysomilou and William Cairns were announced as this year’s adult and junior winners, respectively.

Anastasia donated her kidney to her brother in law, a year and a half ago.

“This selfless act has meant her brother in law is now fit and well and able to return to his previous life of sport and doing and eating whatever he wants,” said one of the organisers, “she has given the ultimate gift of life.”

Chapidou Chrysomilou said that she was overwhelmed with the award and felt humble in a room full of so many others. “These people are all wonderful, it’s so inspiring,” she said.

Eleven year old William Cairns was awarded the ‘2016 Junior Heart of Gold’ for his courage and maturity, and for supporting his family whist his father undergoes cancer treatment.

“Polite, mature, talented, studious and full of love, this young man has also taken on the mantle of the man of the house, supporting his family with a smile. He is an inspiration,” said patron Joannou Elia.

Sham Al Habrat, 10, a gentle, kind and caring young girl was presented with the ‘Jasmitha award for dedicating her life to charity and helping others.

Joannou Elia spoke about the importance of humanity and kindness, and that without it society and community doesn’t exist. He also announced that the awards will go island wide for 2017.

“The Hearts of Gold Cyprus will celebrate ten years in 2017, and we will open up the nominations to the other towns. We are very excited about this,” he said.

Nominees, their families and friends and members of the judging panel were all present at the ceremony.

George Michaelides, who represented Cyprus at Junior Eurovision in Malta and his dancers performed his Cyprus entry and the Zingers, an amateur singing group who were also nominated for raising over 70,000 euros for local charities, greeted guests with songs.

All of the nominees received a certificate and a flower presented by British Vice Consul Christina Smith and members of the judging panel, Judith Evans Davies and Linda Leblanc.

The Hearts of Gold recognise children and adults who have shown tremendous courage, strength and determination, worked tirelessly in the community or for charities, overcome tragedies with a smile or simply been a great help and support to neighbours and friends.

Pictures and a video of the event will be available at the website http://www.heartsofgoldcyprus.com and the dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/heartsofgoldcyprus/

The annual award is supported by Paphos municipality, the British High Commission, Aphrodite Jewellers, Almyra Hotel, Massiva printers, Kivotos Gallery, the Cyprus Mail, The Paphos Post, Radio Pafos, Flybynite Media, Almyra Hotel, TOTT Events and Joulietta chocolatier and patisserie, and Palia Ilektriki Restaurant. Chris Hopkins was this year’s photographer and Nicky Kirby the videographer.