Category: Caregivers

6 Awards for Kapa3 at the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing: Is There Such a Thing as a “Lonely Race”?

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 participated with great joy and emotion in the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Swimming Crossing, an important sports and community event organised by the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club.

This year’s participation was particularly meaningful for all of us. The Kapa3 team received 6 awards, sharing a powerful message of participation, endurance, empowerment and togetherness.

But beyond the awards, what we hold most deeply is the message:

Is there really such a thing as a “lonely race”?

For us at Kapa3, the answer lies in our choice. And our choice is togetherness.

Despoina brought the idea — and much more.
Eirini stayed until the very end.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

For Kapa3, the 6 awards are not only an athletic distinction. They are a symbol. They represent the power of effort, the importance of persistence and the value of community in every difficult journey.

ust as in the sea, the cancer journey requires rhythm, breath, emotional strength and people by our side. Even when a struggle feels personal, it does not have to be — and should never be — lonely.

Kapa3’s participation in the Vouliagmeni Crossing was an act of presence and awareness. It was a way to remind everyone that support for cancer patients, caregivers and families is not limited to information or access to rights and services. It is also about creating a community that stands beside people, encourages them and reminds them that they are not alone.

The sea carries a powerful symbolism. It represents the journey, uncertainty, effort, endurance, but also freedom. Every participant in the Crossing carries their own story, their own effort and their own path. For us at Kapa3, this image is deeply connected to the experience of people affected by cancer.

At Kapa3, we know that the experience of cancer is not limited to treatment. It is connected to everyday life, emotional resilience, access to information, rights, social benefits, transportation, work, family, uncertainty and the need for human presence.

This is why every community action we participate in has a dual purpose: to inform and to unite. To make visible the need for equal access to care, while also reminding everyone that support is not an abstract concept. It is presence. It is care. It is listening. It is guidance. It is the hand that helps someone keep going.

The 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing was another moment of outreach, participation and empowerment for Kapa3. A moment that showed that strength is not found only at the finish line, but also in the decision to start, to try and to keep going.

We are grateful for the support, the care, the participation and the result.

We warmly thank the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club for organising the event, as well as everyone who participated, supported and stood beside us in this initiative.

We continue to choose togetherness at Kapa3.

Because even when a race is individual, it should never be lonely.

Learning by Doing: Participation in the European Service Learning 2.0: CoLab Programme

Learning by Doing: Participation in the European Service Learning 2.0: CoLab Programme

Within the framework of the European programme Service Learning 2.0: CoLab – Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships KA2, KE: 22707, coordinated by the University of Bucharest, an online workshop and focus group was organised with civil society organisations, focusing on the educational approach of Service-Learning.

Service-Learning is a contemporary experiential learning method that combines academic knowledge with active student engagement in society. Through activities that respond to real social or environmental needs, students develop meaningful skills, strengthen their social awareness and connect theoretical learning with practical action.

The workshop brought together universities and civil society organisations from across Europe, including Université Aix-Marseille, University of Bucharest, University of Salzburg, University of Padova, Sapienza University of Rome, and Eurasianet.eu. The discussion focused on cooperation between universities and NGOs, the exchange of experiences, and the adaptation of practices that can strengthen the social impact of education.

Participation in such initiatives highlights the importance of collaboration between academia, civil society and non-profit organisations.

For Kapa3, the philosophy of Service-Learning is closely aligned with its mission: transforming knowledge into action, empowering people affected by cancer, and building bridges between education, social care and active citizenship.

Through these educational collaborations, the connection between universities and society is strengthened, while new opportunities are created for participatory learning, social innovation and meaningful support for vulnerable groups.

Find more

Flyer – Workshop_ Service Learning (2) Service-learning-key-facts (1)

Service-learning-key-facts (1)

May 27 th 2026 Workshop SL with CSOs

New MELODIC Scientific Publication on the Mental Health of Young Adults with Cancer

Kapa3 participates in the new scientific publication of the European MELODIC project, entitled:

“Educational Needs Regarding Mental Health of Professionals Working with Young Adults with Cancer: A European Survey.”

The publication addresses a highly important issue in contemporary cancer care: the educational needs of healthcare professionals working with young adults with cancer, particularly in relation to recognising and supporting mental health concerns.

Young adults experiencing cancer often face complex psychosocial challenges. Diagnosis, treatment, changes in daily life, impact on studies, work, relationships, body image and future planning can deeply affect their mental health and quality of life.

The European study, involving 271 healthcare professionals from 21 countries, highlighted an important gap between professionals’ willingness to support patients and the systematic use of validated assessment tools. While approximately half of the participating professionals reported feeling confident in identifying mental health issues, only a small percentage reported using validated screening tools.

This finding is particularly important. It shows that awareness and professional experience are valuable, but they are not enough on their own. Targeted education, appropriate tools, interdisciplinary collaboration and clear support pathways are needed so that the needs of young adults with cancer can be recognised early and addressed in a comprehensive way.

The message of the publication is clear: the education of healthcare professionals can make a meaningful difference in the early recognition, support and care of young adults with cancer.

At Kapa3, this approach is a core principle of our work. Before every intervention and every support action, there is education, information and empowerment of the people who stand beside patients.

Kapa3 professionals and collaborators are trained, informed and actively involved in European projects such as MELODIC, ensuring that the support provided is evidence-informed, human-centred and meaningful.

Kapa3’s active participation in such scientific initiatives strengthens its role as an organisation that connects research with practice, European knowledge with real patient needs, and education with everyday care.

We are proud of our participation in the MELODIC project and of our contribution to a European effort that highlights the importance of mental health, early recognition and targeted education in cancer care.

More information: https://lnkd.in/e9Pw4epy

Research studies giving voice to lived experience

At Kapa3, we actively encourage participation in health research studies, as we work every day alongside people affected by cancer, whether as patients or caregivers. Through this work, it becomes increasingly clear how important it is to truly listen to lived experience.

For this reason, the research initiatives we support or contribute to are not just questionnaires. They are a way to better understand the needs, experiences and priorities of the community we serve.

Through participation in these studies, individuals who are at the centre of the cancer experience are given the opportunity to share their reality. Every response, every story, every contribution adds another piece to a broader picture: a more meaningful and human-centred approach to care and support.

The contribution of each participant is highly valuable. The data collected helps us identify needs that are often not visible, better understand challenges, and design actions that reflect the real everyday lives of people.

Through participation in health research studies, lived experience can be transformed into knowledge that makes a real difference. Each study we support is part of a broader effort to understand the experiences of patients and caregivers.

Below you will find the current research studies open for participation, organised by target audience.

Each health research study includes a short description of its purpose and how participation contributes to the overall research effort.

For healthcare professionals

Patient safety culture in hospitals

A pilot study focused on the translation and adaptation of the international SOPS® Hospital Survey 2.0 developed by the AHRQ, adapted for the Greek hospital setting.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the clarity, comprehension and suitability of the tool through the participation of healthcare professionals working in hospital environments.

The study also includes a test–retest phase to assess the stability of responses over time.

Participation: https://forms.gle/Jev7mQ95vt1swtXF7

For research networks and collaborations

sleepCare – sleep quality assessment

The sleepCare research initiative, in collaboration with Christos Frantzidis (University of Lincoln) and his research team, explores sleep quality through real-life experiences and self-reported data from participants.

The aim is to better understand the factors that influence sleep in everyday life through anonymous data collection and short questionnaires.

English questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/e7wYjspX
Greek questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/ejbjGQPC
Platform: https://lnkd.in/e7YHUXdi

For breast cancer survivors

Survivorship experience and quality of life

A thesis-based research study examining fear of cancer recurrence, quality of life, and the role of social support among breast cancer survivors in Greece.

The aim is to better understand post-treatment experiences and the factors that influence psychosocial well-being.

Participation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUgku0yi7LBGg42v_FeKtzVsj5F5uw8hYr-y-hcVKL-fhoeQ/viewform

For patients with respiratory conditions and caregivers

Lung transplantation experiences in Greece

A nationwide study collecting experiences, needs and perspectives of patients with respiratory conditions and their caregivers regarding lung transplantation.

The aim is to capture lived experience across all stages of the disease in order to improve care pathways and healthcare services.

The study is open to patients with respiratory conditions (transplanted or not) as well as their caregivers.

Participation: https://forms.gle/66h4CQJK3pdr1gKK7
Information: https://www.cysticfibrosis.gr/draseis/lung-transplant-working-group/

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3