A fundraising High Tea event organised by Philanthropy – AHEPA Sydney & NSW over the weekend was a resounding success achieving its participation and money targets.

The amount raised, a total of $10,000, will support the cancer research projects of Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, Head of RMIT’s Longevity and Chronic Diseases Program.

The world-renowned scientist captivated the audience with her presentation that covered a range of topics from cancer research and medical advances to aging and health promoting lifestyles.

She revealed interesting facts about her upbringing in Melbourne to a family of Greek migrants before explaining the ways disease can be treated.

“We have vaccines for many types of cancer that cure the disease, but the money to bring those treatments to patients is not there,” said the professor.

She spoke passionately of the importance of prevention and early detection of cancer and urged the audience to participate in the national screening programs.

Official guest was a representative of the Greek Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, Paraskevi Tsintzou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy, who congratulated the AHEPA Sydney & NSW Philanthropy division for its initiative to give Sydney communities the rare opportunity to see and hear Melbourne-based Professor Apostolopoulos.

Announcing the outcome of the fundraising event, AHEPA Sydney & NSW Inc President Nia Gitsas stressed that the $10,000 collected was an amazing result and that the bar for future events of the organisation has been raised.

She thanked the audience, the organisations and the businesses who contributed, for their meaningful support and generosity. The committee of Philanthropy was clearly very pleased with their fundraising effort that took place on March 8, International Women’s Day.

“The planets aligned for us today,” said Philanthropy President Hrisoula Tsambazi, pointing out that “everyone who took the stage, from the keynote speaker and the organisation’s president to the members of the Philanthropy executive, who worked for the event, we are all women.”

The Philanthropy executive, who all worked with enthusiasm and zeal for the fundraiser, also includes vice president Valerie Pontikakos, secretary Vivian Nikolareas and treasurer Fay Skandalakis.

This was Philanthropy’s first event since it was created last year as a Special Interest Group under the streamlined structure of the newly renamed AHEPA Sydney and NSW Incorporated. The High Tea took place at Conca D’oro in Riverwood on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

*All photos Vasilis Vasilas