Community Archives

2025 – Moving Forward with Vision

The Kapa3 Annual Review 2025 reflects a year of determination and vision, as Kapa3 strengthened its impact through initiatives and collaborations focused on holistic cancer care.During the first half of the year alone, we managed more than 400 individual requests, with support for the process of Disability Certification standing out as a key service—confirming that personalized, hands-on support remains at the core of our mission.

A milestone moment in 2025 was Kapa3’s participation, alongside 13 European partners, in the EU4Health programme MELODIC, which focuses on improving mental health support for young adult cancer patients (18–39 years old). Through research mapping the training needs of healthcare professionals, the project highlights the urgent need for better detection and management of psychological distress among young patients—many of whom still lack access to adequate psychosocial care.

MELODIC promotes innovative wellbeing interventions, such as physical activity in green and blue spaces combined with psychosocial support, emphasizing the healing power of nature and community in mental health recovery. As an active partner, Kapa3 works to ensure that these actions reach patients directly, fostering community engagement and equitable access to quality care.

At the same time, our participation in the second cycle of the SmartHEALTH programme, supported by CERTH, strengthened the digital integration of healthcare services and empowered patients through smart technologies, improving efficiency, accessibility, and transparency.

Our collaboration with FairLife within the BREATH programme for lung cancer patients highlighted the importance of holistic and interdisciplinary care. In parallel, our presence at conferences and scientific events—such as COST Action INECSC CA21125 and the 7th conference “Caregivers and Depression”—consistently brought attention to the needs of caregivers and the empowerment of patients.

At both national and international levels, Kapa3 presented its work at the Lazord International Conference, the Pan-Macedonian Scientific Nursing Conference, and the ESMO World Congress in Berlin. We also participated in major events such as the Patients Summit, Morning Health Talks by EIT Health, and the 18th Panhellenic Conference on Nutrition & Dietetics.

A particularly important moment was our action in the Municipality of Megara, where a new Cancer Patient Guidance and Counselling Station was established, offering direct and personalized support to patients and their families.

Prevention and awareness remain fundamental pillars of our work. Breast self-examination initiatives, participation in the Action4Obesity network, presence at the Thessaloniki Disability Festival, and the launch of new nutrition-related sections on our website all contribute to improving the quality of life of patients and caregivers—combining scientific guidance with lived experience.

Awards 2025

In 2025, Kapa3 received significant recognition for the digital platform Cancer Care Connect, winning a Gold Award at the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards, as well as the Gold Award for “NGO of the Year – Health and Social Care” at the Hellenic Responsible Business Awards 2025.
In addition, our collaboration with the University of Peloponnese received a Silver Award at the Healthcare Business Awards 2025 for the programme “Community co-design and implementation of holistic educational practices for nutrition and mental health.”

Every initiative, every partnership, and every participation brings us closer to our vision: holistic, human-centred care where the voices of patients and caregivers truly matter.

To explore our full journey from the foundation of Kapa3 through the end of 2025, you can view our comprehensive activity report here.

The Kapa3 Annual Review 2025 reaffirms our commitment to holistic, human-centred care, where the voices of patients and caregivers truly matter.

As we step into the new year, we move forward with enthusiasm, commitment, and optimism—to continue supporting patients and caregivers, investing in innovation and education, and strengthening care and participation across all our actions.

We wish everyone a year filled with health, strength, and inspiration.

The Kapa3 Team

World Love Day – 14 December

Love as a foundation of wellbeing, resilience, and human connection

World Love Day, celebrated every year on 14 December, invites us to pause and reflect on the power of love in our everyday lives. Love — in all its forms — strengthens human connection, nurtures compassion, and builds more resilient communities. For people facing illness, caregiving responsibilities or personal hardship, love is not just an emotion; it is presence, support, and protection.

Love and human wellbeing

International evidence highlights that loving relationships and strong social bonds contribute to better mental health, lower stress levels, and greater resilience. Social support — whether from family, friends, or the wider community — is essential during moments of crisis and plays a key role in enhancing overall wellbeing.

Inequalities in access to care, support, and connection

Although love is universal in meaning, it is not universally experienced. Social and economic barriers, loneliness, and lack of supportive networks can limit a person’s access to care and emotional safety. World Love Day is a reminder that social cohesion requires continuous effort — especially for individuals and families living in vulnerable conditions.

The meaning of love in cancer care

For people living with cancer — and for those who care for them — love carries a profound significance. Emotional support has been shown to:

reduce anxiety and depression,
strengthen adherence to treatment,
improve communication with healthcare professionals,
and create a much-needed sense of stability and safety.

Love means no one should face illness alone.

The Greek context

In Greece, many patients and caregivers rely heavily on informal networks of support. While this often becomes a powerful source of strength, it can also create pressure when caregivers lack institutional support or face social and economic challenges. Strengthening a culture of care and solidarity is essential so that no family carries the burden by itself.

The role of Kapa3

At Kapa3, love is at the heart of our work. Through awareness activities, psychosocial support, networking opportunities, and advocacy for patients’ rights, we strive to create environments where love translates into care, safety, and dignity. We support families, empower caregivers, and amplify the voices of those who are often unheard.

Become a member or volunteer at Kapa3

Support our work and become part of a community that ensures no patient or caregiver is left alone. By joining Kapa3 as a member or volunteer, you help us build support networks, provide reliable information and psychosocial support, and promote dignity and compassion in practice.

Learn more about volunteering here: https://www.kapa3.gr/prosklisi-ethelonton-gia-to-kentro-kathodigisis-karkinopathon-kapa3/

After all, nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer. (Jimmy Doolittle)

If you would like to contribute, you can contact us by phone or email, using the subject line “Volunteering”.

Become a member of Kapa3:
https://www.kapa3.gr/gine-melos/

Learn more about Kapa3 at:
www.kapa3.gr

A call to action

World Love Day invites us to express love openly, through actions and with consistency. It calls on us to support those who need care, to cultivate empathy, and to build a society where compassion and humanity are not exceptions, but core values.

Let’s not forget that love is a choice. It takes time. It requires patience and effort. It means showing up. It is kindness. It is not selfish, and it is not conditional.

Let us remember today — and every day — that love is an action. And that this action has the power to change lives.

After all,

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3