EPOC was born out of a desire to provide those enduring the difficulties of chemotherapy with a little bit of comfort in very uncomfortable times. The program was first conceived by Eleni Vavas, a physician, wife, mother, daughter, sister and most importantly a self-proclaimed "cancer fighter". As Eleni persevered through chemo treatments, she struggled with the realities of the side effects that chemotherapy caused. Eleni started wearing scarves, mostly around her neck to cover her mediport, draw people's attention away from her short hair, provide a bit of extra warmth as she struggled to maintain her weight and most importantly as she put it "to add a little pop of color". She always said that she was comforted by how the scarves made her feel. While undergoing treatments, Eleni began working with hospital administrators at North Shore University Hospital to create EPOC. It was Eleni's desire that others going through chemotherapy would be able to enjoy that same bit of comfort she felt when she wrapped herself in those scarves. To continue Eleni’s legacy and vision, EPOC continues its outreach within the North Shore/LIJ Health System. An EPOC scarf is much more than just an accessory. It serves as a badge of honor and as a reminder of the unbreakable human spirit and unwavering strength of the soul within. Almost equally as important is the hope that each EPOC scarf will inspire discussions and promote awareness.
*EPOC is sponsored by The Eleni Vavas Memorial Fund which received tax exempt status 501 (c)(3) in September 2015.
