A Golden Effort-From Cyprus to Boston
Landmark Event brings hope for Pediatric Cancer
A landmark event highlighting the collaborative efforts between Boston Children’s Hospital and the Nicholas Zoe Foundation (NZF) will take place on September 16, 2025, at the Nicosia Old Town Hall under the auspices of President Nikos Christodoulides.
This signature gathering will bring together philanthropists, researchers, and medical pioneers, united in a shared mission: advancing groundbreaking research in pediatric cancer. Held under the theme of ‘A Golden Effort- From Cyprus to Boston,’ the event draws inspiration from Gold September, recognized globally as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The evening promises powerful insights, moving tributes, and a call to action in the fight against childhood cancer.
Event Highlights: A Golden September, a Golden Effort
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Research Updates: Hear exclusive updates from leading experts at Boston Children’s Hospital on the progress and global impact of this pioneering research.
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Silent Art Auction: Curated by art advisor, Maria Paphiti, this auction will feature artwork by prominent Cypriot artists with all net proceeds going directly to support NZF’s mission.
Welcome Speeches:
Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus (video address)
Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Petros Agathangelou, MD, President, Cyprus Medical Association
Keynote Highlights:
A Mother’s Journey of the Heart: Alexia Potamitou, President, Nicholas Zoe Foundation
Hope on the Horizon: Improving Cancer Care for Children Everywhere: Mark Fleming, MD, DPhil, Pathologist-in-Chief, Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital’s Global Impact: Julia Burke, Director, International Development, Boston Children’s Hospital
‘The Nicholas Zoe Foundation may have been born out of tragedy and loss, but it aspires to help fund new breakthroughs in pediatric sarcoma research. This was Nicholas’ wish—that no child fights the ‘beast,’ as he used to call his cancer,” says Alexia Potamitou, his mother and President of NZF, adding that “we aim to bring hope to families around the world.
Nicholas Artemiou, the Foundation’s namesake, passed away at the age of 9 on October 23, 2023, following a heroic three-year battle with cancer. His remarkable strength, courage, resilience, wisdom, and charisma continue to inspire the Foundation’s work and its vision for a world without childhood cancer.
At the heart of this collaboration is the pioneering work of Dr. Mark Fleming and his team at Boston Children’s Hospital, who have made significant strides in developing a liquid biopsy- a groundbreaking diagnostic tool that uses DNA from blood samples to track tumors and monitor their response to therapy. With this valuable information, treatments can be personalized, reducing side effects, and physicians can prescribe new therapies, if needed, to give children the best possible chance at a healthy future.
Philanthropic support has been essential to this progress. The Nicholas Zoe Foundation has already contributed over $200,000 to support this life-saving research, with a goal of raising $500,000 to bring the liquid biopsy to clinical trial phase.
“Cancer touches us all. The Nicholas Zoe Foundation has been a generous philanthropic partner, enabling our team to accelerate this life-changing test and bring hope to families worldwide,” said Dr. Mark D. Fleming, Pathologist-in-Chief at Boston Children’s Hospital.
From Cyprus to Boston, this international partnership is forging a new path forward for children with cancer- driven by innovation, compassion, and an unrelenting belief in a brighter future.
About the Nicholas Zoe Foundation
Founded in loving memory of Nicholas Artemiou, NZF is committed to improving the lives of children with cancer through advocacy, education, and funding for breakthrough research. The NZF dares to dream of advanced medical treatment options for Ewing sarcoma and diagnostic tools that will enable earlier diagnosis and personalized treatment.
About Boston Children’s Hospital Trust
The mission of the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust is to promote philanthropic investment in support of Boston Children’s Hospital, and to advance its missions of patient care, research, education, and community service. We work with individuals, foundations, and corporations to support care and research through philanthropy, respond to families who want to give back, and build long-term relationships to sustain the Hospital for the future. Philanthropic support has a profound global impact, as Boston Children’s treats kids 100 countries collaborates with more than 300 international outreach programs to deliver essential care to children in communities everywhere.
