Board
of Directors

GEORGE KAPETANAKIS
President
George Kapetanakis is the President of the Hellenic Cancer Federation - ELLOK and President of the Cancer Patients Association of Pieria.
His experience with cancer 12 years earlier was the catalyst that led him to actively engage in supporting oncology patients. Alongside other patients who shared the same vision, he has worked consistently since 2015 to establish and develop the Hellenic Cancer Federation as the central national umbrella organization for cancer patient associations in Greece.
He is an active volunteer and member of the Bone Marrow Donor Volunteer Association “Vision of Hope,” promoting the national awareness campaign for voluntary bone marrow donation. He is a strong advocate of the European perspective, considering it a necessary and sufficient condition to effectively address the modern challenges of cancer care and reduce existing inequalities. Furthermore, he believes that collaboration among cancer patient organizations at the European level can provide effective solutions to the serious problems faced daily by cancer patients across Europe. Professionally, he works in the financial services sector.

PARASKEVI MICHALOPOULOU
Vice President
Paraskevi Michalopoulou is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of ELLOK and previously served as the Treasurer of the Board from 2016 to 2021.
She is the President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer "Alma Zois." She also serves as the President of the Organizing Committee of the symbolic Race and Walk Against Breast Cancer, Greece Race for the Cure®. She is a two-time breast cancer survivor.
She is a graduate of the School of Dentistry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has completed the educational seminar program titled "Contemporary Issues in Bioethics," organized by the National Bioethics Committee. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's Degree in "Management of Aging and Chronic Diseases" at the Hellenic Open University.

MARIA THEODORIDOU
Secretary
Maria Theodoridou is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of ELLOK and Vice President of the Cancer Patient Support Association "EU ZO with Cancer" in Heraklion, Crete.
Maria holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. Since 1986, she has been working as a Research and Development Engineer at the Institute of Computer Science of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH).
Maria’s connection with cancer is multifaceted, as she was a caregiver for her parents and her partner, all of whom were affected by the disease. In 2012, while already an active member of the “EU ZO with Cancer” patient support association, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. These experiences strengthened her resolve to fight with all her strength for every patient’s right to comprehensive and equitable healthcare.

ANGELIKI STEFANAKI
Treasurer
A member of the Board of Directors of ELLOK since February 2020, she took on the role of Treasurer in 2021.
Since 2007, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Breast Cancer Women's Association "ALMA ZOIS," holding various positions (treasurer, secretary, vice president), and since 2021, she has served as the President of the Board.
She is from Patras and a mother of three children. She first encountered cancer in 2001. In 2015, she was diagnosed with a recurrence of the disease and metastases, yet she never stopped her volunteer work and her active role in advocating for the rights of cancer patients.
She graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens and worked as an executive at the National Bank for 34 years. She is with ELLOK to bring to the forefront the voice and issues of metastatic patients.

ΙΩΑΝΝΑ ΚΑΡΑΒΑΝΑ
Member
Ioanna Karavana was born in Larissa, is a graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and has been an active lawyer since 1993. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers' Assistance Fund of the Larissa Court of First Instance and as a special advisor to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior.
Since 2015, Ioanna Karavana has been a trained volunteer (Gestalt Foundation) with the Larissa Cancer Patients' Association and its representative in the European Cancer Patient Coalition. She is currently serving her third term as the president of the Larissa Cancer Patients' Association and as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK).
She is a mother of an adult son, a breast cancer survivor, and a caregiver. She believes that informed patients achieve better health outcomes, that training and empowering the staff of patient associations is a necessary condition for their development, that the public health good is paramount and non-negotiable, and that national healthcare systems must be strong and well-equipped with the necessary financial and human resources.

MARIA TZIMA
Member
Maria Tzima is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK) and a Member of the Board of Directors, as well as Secretary, of the Cancer Patients' Association of Friends and Families of Northwestern Greece, "We Are Together" (ΕΙΜΑΣΤΕ ΜΑΖΙ). Following her experience with breast cancer, she actively participates in the association’s initiatives with the noble goal of advocating for dignified care and ensuring patients' access to all modern treatments.
She studied Computer Science at the University of Brighton, United Kingdom. From 2000 to 2006, she was involved in the administrative management of European projects and programs in the Medical Technology and Intelligent Information Systems Unit of the Department of Informatics at the University of Ioannina. Since 2006, she has been an administrative staff member at the University of Ioannina.

APOSTOLOS CHARITONIDIS
Member
Apóstolos Charitonidis is a member of the Board of Directors of ELLOK and the Treasurer of the Panhellenic Association of Bone Marrow Transplant Patients (P.A.S.M.M.O).
In 2006, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia and underwent an Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant.
Since 2009, he has linked all of his personal athletic achievements with promoting the campaign "Throw Away Fear, Throw Away Ignorance, Become a Bone Marrow Donor." His legacy in society is the registration of over 10,000 of our fellow citizens in the Global Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
Having won 18 medals and set a World Record in World and European Championships, his goal is to promote Healthy Nutrition and Planned Physical Exercise for cancer survivors, helping them transition from mere survival to a state of well-being.
Audit Committee 2023-2026
Eirini Georgosopoulou
Vasileios Karapintsios
Marina Koulentianou

KAITI APOSTOLIDOU
President
She is a founding member of ELLOK and is currently serving her second term as President (2020-2023). She served as Vice President and President of ECPC – European Cancer Patient Coalition from 2013 to 2020, and since January 2021, she has been a member of its Board of Directors. She represents ECPC at the European Medicines Agency, the ECIBC/QASDG EU expert group, and the scientific committee of TRANSCAN-2. She has also represented ECPC in all European Joint Actions on cancer, including EPAAC, CanCon, iPAAC, JARC, and in various committees of the European Commission, among others. On a national level, she participated in the committee that drafted the National Law for the establishment of the National Institute of Neoplasms and in the Patient Registry Committees of the Ministry of Health. She represents ELLOK in the National Network for Precision Medicine and is a member of the Steering Committee of All.Can Greece. She has numerous publications on cancer policy issues.

ΙΩΑΝΝΑ ΚΑΡΑΒΑΝΑ
Vice President
Ioanna Karavana is the President of the Larissa Cancer Patients' Association and a very active member of the community. She became involved with the Larissa Association after her experience with breast cancer and has been actively participating in its initiatives. She believes that informed patients achieve better health outcomes and that the training and empowerment of the management and staff of patient associations is essential for their development.

GEORGE KAPETANAKIS
Secretary
After his experience with hematologic cancer, George became a member of the Cancer Patients' Association of Pieria, where he currently serves as the President of the Board. He is actively involved in sports and participates in running events, aiming to promote social messages. He strongly believes that addressing the issues faced by cancer patients in our country must have a European perspective, and he supports the European and international collaborations of ELLOK. He is also a member and volunteer for the Bone Marrow Donors Association "Vision of Hope."

ANGELIKI STEFANAKI
Treasurer
A member of the Board of Directors of ELLOK since February 2020, she took on the role of Treasurer in 2021. She is from Patras and is a mother of three children. She first encountered cancer in 2001. Since 2007, she has been an active member of all Boards of the "Alma Zois" Breast Cancer Women's Association in the N. Achaia region. In 2015, she was diagnosed with a relapse of the disease and metastasis, yet she never stopped her volunteer work and active role in advocating for the rights of cancer patients. She graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Athens and worked as an executive at the National Bank for 34 years. She is part of ELLOK to bring attention to the voice and issues of metastatic patients.

PARASKEVI MICHALOPOULOU
Treasurer
Paraskeyi Michalopoulou served as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of ELLOK from 2016 to 2021. She is the President of the Board of the Panhellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer "Alma Zois". Since the inception of the symbolic race and walk against breast cancer, GreeceRace for the Cure®, she has been a member of the organizing committee. She is a dentist, a graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has completed the educational seminar program titled "Contemporary Issues in Bioethics," organized by the National Bioethics Committee. Currently, she is studying in the Master's Program in "Aging and Chronic Disease Management" at the Hellenic Open University.

MARIA THEODORIDOU
Member
Maria is the Vice President of the Association for the Support of Cancer Patients "EΥ ZO with Cancer" in Heraklion, Crete, and a member of the Board of Directors of ELLOK since 2017. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master's degree (M.A.Sc.) in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. Since 1986, she has worked as a Research and Development Engineer at the Institute of Informatics of the Foundation for Research and Technology. Her relationship with cancer is multifaceted. Motivated by her mother's illness in 2006, she became actively involved in the "EΥ ZO with Cancer" association to share her experience as a caregiver and to help families of cancer patients while also seeking support. In 2012, she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2018, her partner was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which led to his passing in 2020. These experiences have helped her recognize the vital role of associations and federations and the necessity of continuing to fight with all her strength for comprehensive, holistic care for cancer patients and their caregivers.

ELENI NTELIOPOULOU
Member
Elena is a founding member and the immediate past President of the Breast Cancer Women’s Association "Álma Zoís" of Thessaloniki. She served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of ELLOK during its first term. Elena worked closely with the members of the Board of the association to create support and training programs for patients, as well as to educate the members of the Board in modern methods of managing non-profit organizations. She holds a degree in Pastoral and Social Theology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and is a senior student at the School of Fine Arts of the same university. As a trained volunteer for 11 years, she provides emotional support and information to patients at the A.N.T.H. "Theagenio" hospital. Since 2020, she has been attending an online psychoeducational program in seminar form about the abuse of women, offered by W.I.N. Hellas – International Women’s Support.
Audit Committee
Andromachi Athinaiou
Anastasia Spiridou
Anastasia Kami

KAITI APOSTOLIDOU
President
She is a founding member of ELLOK and is currently serving her second term as President (2020-2023). She served as Vice President and President of ECPC – European Cancer Patient Coalition from 2013 to 2020, and since January 2021, she has been a member of its Board of Directors. She represents ECPC at the European Medicines Agency, the ECIBC/QASDG EU expert group, and the scientific committee of TRANSCAN-2. She has also represented ECPC in all European Joint Actions on cancer, including EPAAC, CanCon, iPAAC, JARC, and in various committees of the European Commission, among others. On a national level, she participated in the committee that drafted the National Law for the establishment of the National Institute of Neoplasms and in the Patient Registry Committees of the Ministry of Health. She represents ELLOK in the National Network for Precision Medicine and is a member of the Steering Committee of All.Can Greece. She has numerous publications on cancer policy issues.

ELENI NTELIOPOULOU
Vice President
Elena is a founding member and the immediate past President of the Breast Cancer Women’s Association "Álma Zoís" of Thessaloniki. She served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of ELLOK during its first term. Elena worked closely with the members of the Board of the association to create support and training programs for patients, as well as to educate the members of the Board in modern methods of managing non-profit organizations. She holds a degree in Pastoral and Social Theology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and is a senior student at the School of Fine Arts of the same university. As a trained volunteer for 11 years, she provides emotional support and information to patients at the A.N.T.H. "Theagenio" hospital. Since 2020, she has been attending an online psychoeducational program in seminar form about the abuse of women, offered by W.I.N. Hellas – International Women’s Support.

GEORGE KAPETANAKIS
Secretary
After his experience with hematologic cancer, George became a member of the Cancer Patients' Association of Pieria, where he currently serves as the President of the Board. He is actively involved in sports and participates in running events, aiming to promote social messages. He strongly believes that addressing the issues faced by cancer patients in our country must have a European perspective, and he supports the European and international collaborations of ELLOK. He is also a member and volunteer for the Bone Marrow Donors Association "Vision of Hope."

PARASKEVI MICHALOPOULOU
Treasurer
She is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Panhellenic Breast Cancer Women's Association "Alma Zois," where she has been actively involved for a decade. Despite her professional engagement as a dentist, Paraskevi has served on committees and programs within the association.

Zoi Grammatoglou
Member
She is the President and founding member of the Cancer Patients, Volunteers, Friends, and Doctors Association of Athens (K.E.F.I.). A retired educator with training as a Volunteer in Social Welfare by the Red Cross, she has also contributed her services at the Saint Savvas hospital. In 1993, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which marked the beginning of her volunteer work. Zoí supports the establishment of palliative care for cancer patients as part of oncology care within the national healthcare system.

MARIA THEODORIDOU
Member
Maria is the Vice President of the Association for the Support of Cancer Patients "EΥ ZO with Cancer" in Heraklion, Crete, and a member of the Board of Directors of ELLOK since 2017. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master's degree (M.A.Sc.) in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. Since 1986, she has worked as a Research and Development Engineer at the Institute of Informatics of the Foundation for Research and Technology. Her relationship with cancer is multifaceted. Motivated by her mother's illness in 2006, she became actively involved in the "EΥ ZO with Cancer" association to share her experience as a caregiver and to help families of cancer patients while also seeking support. In 2012, she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2018, her partner was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which led to his passing in 2020. These experiences have helped her recognize the vital role of associations and federations and the necessity of continuing to fight with all her strength for comprehensive, holistic care for cancer patients and their caregivers.

ΙΩΑΝΝΑ ΚΑΡΑΒΑΝΑ
Member
Ioanna Karavana is the President of the Larissa Cancer Patients' Association and a very active member of the community. She became involved with the Larissa Association after her experience with breast cancer and has been actively participating in its initiatives. She believes that informed patients achieve better health outcomes and that the training and empowerment of the management and staff of patient associations is essential for their development.
Audit Committee
Ioannis Gkoumas
Rinoula Sotirxeli
Rodiani Kokkinaki