Donation to Diabetes

Professor Stephen Twigg, Director of the Endocrinology & Diabetes Research Foundation (EDRF) at the University of Sydney, recently hosted a thank you morning tea for the Federation of Thessalian Associations, President Mr Peter Siomos and members.

The Federation of Thessalian Associations held a "Help Cure Diabetes Charity Ball" on 11 June 2011 at the Torwood Lounge in Sans Souci. The evening raised $10,000 from members, family and friends of the Greek Community.

“We know that diabetes is a major health issue including for the Greek community, for both those earlier generations mainly born in Greece and for Australian born people with Greek heritage” said Mr Siomos. “As part of our ongoing community service, the honorary organisation of the Federation of Thessalian Associations is pleased to provide this donation to EDRF, University of Sydney for diabetes research,” he said.

Professor Twigg says, “We are thankful to Thessalian for their generous donation to EDRF. We plan to use the funds to support a project looking at effects of diabetes on fatty liver disease and ways to protect the liver.” He also added that he and his family very much enjoyed the Charity Ball including the community minded, very active Greek dancing – in itself a highly appropriate way to help keep a healthy liver!

The Federation of Thessalian Associations is an organisation formed in 1999 when three not-for-profit associations (Meteora, Hasion and Elassona) agreed to combine their efforts to better serve the Australian community which had heritage from central Greece.

The Endocrinology & Diabetes Research Foundation is a non-for profit organisation of the University of Sydney, dedicated to diabetes and endocrinology research and sits under the Sydney Medical School Foundation.

The photo shows Mr Peter Siomos (left) and Professor Stephen Twigg (right) celebrating the official handover of the $10,000 funds donation to the Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Foundation. Also shown are office bearers and members of the Federation of Thessalian Associations (left to right) Mrs Dora Koutis, Mr Sam Katsianas, Mr Leo Katsidis & Mr Tassos Fengitis and to right of Prof. Twigg, Associate Professor Susan McLennan, Dr Kathryn Williams (PhD student) and Ms Sharon Clibbens (EDRF Executive Officer) from the University of Sydney.

Written by Professor Stephen Twigg