At the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) stall at the Antipodes Festival on Lonsdale Street, tiny crosses, Greek flag bucket hats and blue-and-white dog bandanas were selling fast. The handiwork of Elena Tsapatolis, she used the festival weekend as a soft launch for her not-yet-online business.
Despite not being off the ground yet, she decided that profits would go to Heidi, who underwent surgery for stage 4 endometriosis on the festival’s opening day (February 28). With the life-saving surgery done, Heidi now faces more procedures ahead.
Elena doesn’t even know Heidi personally, however she wanted to help.
“My friend Roma Siachos, who is active in the community, told me about Heidi, and I just wanted to help,” she said. “Isn’t that what we do? Philotimo. Isn’t that what the Greek community is all about?”
Devoted to her dogs, Elena began crafting Grecian-inspired bandanas and expanded into bucket hats and crosses for the fundraiser. Every cent went to a woman she’s never met.
Elena says that the products were so well-received that she is now considering her business launch and possibly creating an online business. Meanwhile, she is selling her bucket hats, crosses and dog bandanas by request at 26konk@gmail.com.
