‘We’ve all felt the ups and downs; the moments of despair followed by flickers of hope...’
The dreams began in Paphos.
At first, they were small: whispered moments of hope; tiny flames in the dark. Over the months they grew, kindled by compassion and the quiet power of kindness.
And now? Well, today, the dreams of Paphos are carrying light into the darkest corners of Cyprus, illuminating lives across the island…
There’s a story here: a tale both triumph and disaster – though not necessarily in that order. And it begins in the most unlikely of places – the cancer ward at Evangelismos Hospital.
“In 2020, in the Paphos District, 576 patients were diagnosed with cancer,” reveals Andrew Lauder. “I was one of them…”
As Covid swept the island, 74-year-old Andrew noticed “a fast-growing lump on my back. I’d had three melanomas already, this looked like being a fourth. And so off I went to my surgeon.”
Andrew was diagnosed not just with melanoma, but also with two lung cancers and a chest cancer – inoperable all. But, thanks to GESY, he was fast-tracked straight into immunotherapy treatment.
“And then,” he rejoices. “There was a miracle! Within 24 months, the cancer was in remission!”
For most, the story would have ended there – with relief at a second chance. But Andrew is different: a rare blend of both dreamer and doer…

“One day, late in my treatment, one of the nurses came into my room. She was sobbing. It turned out that the wife of a 33-year-old cancer patient in the next ward was pregnant – the nurse knew the husband, it was unlikely he would live to see his child. It was absolutely tragic,” he sighs, “and yet all too common.”
Andrew gave the man his card. “I knew there was little I could do; certainly nothing medical. Cancer is a treadmill: your whole life becomes one long exhausting round of blood tests, PET scans, MRIs, CTs; appointments with doctors and nurses, surgeons and oncologists.
“But perhaps, I thought, there was something else I could offer? Something small that might alleviate the constant weight of their struggle? Maybe I could offer a little respite – pay for the wife to spend a day at a spa or a hotel, away from it all?”
Andrew and family did exactly that: paying for the first Paphos dream. And an idea was born.
“We called ourselves Care Days,” Andrew explains. “And we started working with local sponsors – hotels, restaurants, and more – to offer cancer patients a day away from the grind: a champagne breakfast, a ride in a classic car; perhaps a day at the salon, the spa, or a hotel.
“It wasn’t much, but it meant everything to those who needed it. Just a few hours of joy, of feeling special, could lift spirits in ways we never imagined.”
Word spread quickly, as it so often does in Cyprus. And soon more people wanted to be part of the mission: Paphos businesses, inspired by the impact of these small acts of kindness, started reaching out to offer their services entirely for free.
“We registered as a non-profit,” Andrew continues. “And started offering Care Days to cancer patients across the region. As our network grew, even more kind businesses and individuals stepped forward, making donations. And that meant we could offer not just Days but also Dreams!”
Initially, Care Days could only give the experiences that were offered to them. But now, thanks to donations, the non-profit is also able to fulfil specific patient dreams…
‘When he was diagnosed, Tony was desperately low,’ writes one woman, in the testimonials section of the website. ‘He was missing our son, and his dream was to play a round of golf with him. But finances were tight.’

Another patient writes of how he wished to attend a Nottingham Forest v Manchester Utd game with his father. A third explains how his wife has always wanted to visit a Greek island.
All three achieved their dreams: Tony was flown to the UK, and played 18 holes with his son; the Nottingham supporter sat in the stands with his father; the devoted husband took his wife to the Greek island she had always longed to see.
But there are many, many others: to date, International Care Days 4U Ltd has granted over 300 Dreams or Care Days to cancer patients in the Paphos region. And they will not, says Andrew, be stopping there…
There’s a sponsored 5k in March; walker forms are available on the website until January 15. And, thanks to the Paphos Regional Board of Tourism, Care Days will be extending its reach island-wide in the coming year: offering cancer patients discounted stays in Paphos hotels.
“We’ve also launched the idea of sponsoring a dream in memory of a loved one,” says Andrew. “A very kind man approached us and suggested he could pay for a patient’s dream in memory of his father. So that’s opened up a whole new avenue!”
Four years on from a simple act of kindness in a cancer ward, Care Days has taken on a life of its own. “More and more people and companies are coming to us to offer their help,” Andrew enthuses. “And, most importantly, more and more cancer patients are benefiting.
“Of course this isn’t a cure,” he adds. “But there’s an undeniably positive psychological effect to having something to look forward to, something that takes your mind off cancer. And then having a wonderful memory to look back on.
“Who among us hasn’t suffered the effects of cancer in our lives: a friend or family member diagnosed? We’ve all felt the ups and downs; the moments of despair followed by flickers of hope. Care Days reminds patients that they’re more than their diagnosis; they’re more than appointments and treatments and hospital visits.
“It allows them to step away from the rollercoaster of emotion; to experience joy and possibility even in the face of cancer. It reminds them,” he concludes, “that they still have dreams.”
If you would like to realise or sponsor a Dream or Day, visit caredayscyprus.com
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