The Ronald McDonald House New York Greek Division held its 22nd Niki Sideris Annual Memorial Walk-a-Thon on Saturday, June 10, 2017 to raise awareness and funds to support children and their families battling pediatric cancer during their treatment in New York hospitals.

Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in New York, and Manos Koubarakis Consul of Greece in New York participated in the event.  Dr. Koutras thanked the Greek Division, which is, chaired by Michael N. Bapis, a member of the Board of Trustees of Leadership 100, and Ruth Browne,  President and CEO of RMH New York, for their  “fine work” and encouraged  continued support for  the House’s mission.

Spiros Maliagros, President of TIG Advisors, LLC, member of the Executive Committee of the Greek Division and the event’s Master of Ceremonies, thanked the volunteers and Walk-a-Thon participants for their support.

Among the speakers, Browne thanked the Hellenic American community for their generous support of Ronald McDonald House New York over many years. "Many of you are here since the beginning of this institution," Brown said to the volunteers of the Greek Division, warmly thanking them, as well as the Greek Division coordinator Spiridoula Katechis, for their substantial and generous help. She also spoke about Ronald Mc Donald House's expansion plan in Manhattan with the construction of another 11 rooms, which is expected to be completed by September, bringing the total number of rooms to 95, as well as other initiatives, such as the Kings County Family Room and Happy Wheels coffee cart at the Hospital for Special Surgery. "The doors of the foundation are open 365 days a year, and almost all of its rooms are full most nights of the year," Brown said.

Bapis pointed out that more than ten thousand children from Greece, Cyprus and the Hellenes Abroad have found a safe haven for the last 38 years. He thanked Taso Pardalis, the Founder and Partner of Taso Pardalis & Nohavicka, LLP, and this year’s Walk-a-Thon Co-Chair, along with his wife, Maria, for their decisive contribution to the success of the 22nd Walk-a-Thon.

"Thanks to your support and donations, the Ronald McDonald House has the ability to keep families together as long as their child is being treated for pediatric cancer, and thanks to your help, the House will continue to provide these services to families from abroad as well as the Hellenes Abroad in the most difficult moments of their lives,"said Pardalis.

The National Anthems of Greece and the USA were performed by soprano Anastasia Zannis. The Archangel Michael Dance Troupe of Port Washington, Long Island, under the guidance of their dance instructor Roula Zogopoulou, performed various Greek dances.

The Walk-a-Thon and the Christmas Gala, the preparation of which the dozens of volunteers will focus on after the summer break, are the two major events organized each year by the Greek Division of RMH New York.