Superstar pop singer Anna Vissi will be appearing at the Melrose Ballroom in a benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, helping to cure the rare genetic blood disease thalassemia.
The mission of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation is “to increase life expectancy and enhance the quality of life for those impacted by thalassemia, a class of genetic blood disorders, most of which require regular blood transfusions and aggressive management of chronic iron overload, the predominant cause of early death.” T
he foundation funds medical research to advance treatment and curative approaches, supports and advises patients and their families, and advocates on their behalf, while educating medical professionals and the general public.
Maria Hadjidemetriou was diagnosed with thalassemia at age 2 1/2 and as she said in an interview, “Receiving two units of blood transfusion every 14 days is the easy part of the disease. I need to bring awareness to our community.”
A supporter of many charitable causes, Anna Vissi has a personal connection to thalassemia, since a childhood friend passed away from the disease. The renowned singer plans to speak about the experience on the evening of the benefit concert.
On Sunday, at SVL Souvlaki Bar in Astoria, Vissi met with Hadjidemetriou who besides being a thalassemia patient is also the Executive Board Member of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation. P
resident of the Intercollegiate Hellenic Society (IHS) and co-owner of SVL Souvlaki Bar Costas Gurlakis, and Vice President of IHS Margaret Skourlis also met with Vissi. Jack Trantides and Popi Vassilakis of Central organized the benefit concert to raise money for this worthy cause.
Proceeds of online ticket sales will go to the charity to help raise awareness and save lives. Christina Shailas, President of the Cypriot Young Professionals of the Cyprus-US Chambers of Commerce, and Peter Katsiaris, co-owner of SVL Souvlaki Bar were also present at the meeting to welcome Vissi back to New York where fans are eager to attend her concert and support a worthy cause.
Thalassemia is a group of genetic blood disorders. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. It consists of two different proteins, an alpha and a beta.
If the body doesn’t produce enough of either of these two proteins, the red blood cells do not form properly and cannot carry sufficient oxygen. The result is anemia that begins in early childhood and lasts throughout life.
Beta thalassemia is more common in people of Mediterranean descent, though different forms affect people from all over the world. The different forms of thalassemia require different types of treatment, and some mild forms are sometimes misdiagnosed as iron-deficiency anemia.
More severe forms require lifelong blood transfusions for patients who also need chelation to remove the excess iron that may be building up in their system. Trials of a drug to treat thalassemia are in phase 3 of the study which will test the effects of the drug compared to a placebo.
The Intercollegiate Hellenic Society (IHS) has been in existence for over three decades. Since its establishment, the organization has been committed to bringing together young Hellenes to support causes important to our Hellenic roots, and the general Hellenic student body.
Tickets to benefit the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation may be purchased by calling Maria Hadjidemetriou at 917-623-2931, for a table, by calling Popi at 917-682-2887.