THE THIRD annual Paphos Heart of Gold ceremony will take place at the town hall on Friday.
The Paphos mayor will present the 2010 awards to the winners, with all nominees receiving a certificate to recognise their courage, bravery or community spirit. The awards are supported by the municipality’s social welfare committee.
People from across the Paphos community have been nominated to receive the award. There are two categories, the junior and adult Heart of Gold. The solid gold pin has been handcrafted and donated especially for the event for the third year by Aphrodite jewellers of Paphos.
In the junior section, Edie-May Turner Barling, 17, has been nominated for showing an outstanding and caring nature. She showed immense concern for a fellow pupil of the International School of Paphos, young Jasmitha Marharajasingh, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Jasmitha was last year’s winner and was unable to attend as she was in Israel. Paphos mayor Savvas Vergas will present her with a bouquet of flowers on Friday.
Edie-May helped raise funds for Jasmitha’s life-saving treatment in Israel. She also looked after her own grandmother before she died. She is an outstanding young girl with a kind and caring nature.
Nominee Marcus Theodosiou is only four years old and has already undergone two years of treatment for leukaemia. This has included chemotherapy, bone marrow checks and spinal taps. His treatment is in Nicosia and he’s often in isolation for weeks, away from his home. But Marcus meets every challenge with a smile and tremendous courage. He touches the hearts of everyone who knows him. He has just been registered for school and can’t wait to start in September. He is described as a true inspiration and an angel.
Andreas Christofides is another four-year-old junior nominee. Andreas is suffering from a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome. After years of physiotherapy, he is now able to take a few steps. He has many problems and is unable to speak. Andreas is a very happy and friendly boy with a determined nature.
There have been many nominations for the Heart of gold award this year.
Senior nominee Stephen Willis is the Chairman of the Friends Hospice Paphos. Willis had a vision to help people with terminal cancer and through his efforts, determination and leadership, he ensured that there is now a working hospice in Paphos. It provides care and advice for terminally ill patients and their families. All members of the community use the hospice with more than half of the patients being Cypriot.
Ruth Marsh has also been nominated from the Friends Hospice of Paphos. Ruth is the hospice manager and has held this position for over a year and a half. Her kind, caring and helpful nature has eased the suffering of many terminally ill patients and their families. She is a dedicated professional who gives her all to her job and goes beyond her duties to help people.
Ben Hinton is a true hero. On the morning of December 22, Hinton saved the life of the manageress of the Tombs of the Kings branch of the Hellenic Bank, while scaring off an armed robber.
Hinton is a former marine commando and lives close to the bank. He said the gunman turned his back for a second and he saw his chance to spring into action. The Paphos resident was awarded a plaque recognising his heroic actions, by the Paphos chief of police, Demetris Tsokkas.
Chrystalla Themistokleous of the Alzheimer’s association has also been put forward.
Chrystalla has been involved with the Alzheimer’s association in Paphos since it got under way in 2003. She has provided help advice and support for many families who have been affected by the disease. As well as her work for the Alzheimer’s association, Chrystalla works at the Paphos general hospital. She also looks after her mother who has Alzheimer’s.
Nominee Tom Handley is the chairman of the Paphos cancer patients support group. He has helped many families in the community who have been touched by the disease and has done much, along with his wife Jan, to promote the existence of the support group.
Dr Lorna Morrish is the medical adviser of the Friends Hospice. She has provided advice and care to patients of the hospice and provided much needed support for families and patients.
Nominee Dr Stathis Philippou is described as a kind and caring doctor who has ensured that many people get the treatment they need abroad-if it is not available in Cyprus. He has helped many families and has a true kind and caring heart.
Andreas Paraskeva has twice saved a young Englishman’s life when he tried to harm himself. He was suffering from a mental illness at the time caused by a diving accident. Andreas was commended by the ex chief of Paphos police Andreas Krokkos for his actions.
Christine Jackson is a cancer patient and fundraiser. Christine has lived in Mesa Chorio for the last 20 years. She is a cancer patient who has raised over €40,000 for the Friends Hospice of Paphos.
Christine Panayiotou of Pafiakos and CCP animal welfare has also been nominated. Christine has dedicated her life for the last 25 years to saving neglected animals all over the Paphos district. She has done much to change the attitude towards animals and their care in Cyprus and works tirelessly for the charity on a daily basis.
Cindy Hyde was described by her nominator as a true angel. Cindy stepped in to help her neighbour – who she didn’t know – when the husband was diagnosed with cancer. As he underwent treatment, Cindy looked after her neighbour’s three children, cooked, cleaned the house and took them to school. She stepped in again to look after the house and children when the parents were away in Germany for cancer treatment.
Polis Charalambous is a musician and music teacher and is described as a caring individual who has undertaken many charitable works in Paphos and abroad. This nominee provides free music lessons to the over-50s.
Paul Clarke decided to raise money for the Friends’ Hospice of Paphos, the children’s ward of Paphos general hospital and the cardiology unit. He did this by cycling around Cyprus and also cycling for hours on a static bike at different venues around Paphos. He has so far raised € 4,500 for his chosen charities.
Stavros Pantilides is a businessman who lives in Peyia. He helps out in the local community when they are in need. He also offered to build a bowling green to help local bowls players, two of whom now represent Cyprus at international events. The green is due to be finished just a few weeks.
Lesley Chrystoforou is a charity fundraiser. Lesley is a lady who likes a challenge. She recently cycled around Cyprus to raise money for water well in Gambia. She has also ridden the Great Wall of China for charity. She has strength of character and is a very giving lady.
And finally, Gina Ghillyer and Louise Van Rooij have been nominated for their work with breast cancer awareness and sunflower campaign. These ladies put Paphos in the Guinness book of records for the longest bra chain in the world to raise awareness of breast cancer. They have done much for breast cancer awareness, including Gala dinners and other events. They also started the pioneering sunflower campaign, which sees women being sent alerts to their mobile phone to remind them to go for cancer checks. It’s a two-way system and aims to prevent cases of cancer.
The award’s patron is Paphos mayor, Savvas Vergas.