The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Paul will be holding a fundraiser to benefit the Tzakas family of Franklin Square. Michaella Tzakas, a beautiful four-year-old girl, has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS leukemia). The fundraiser will be held to defray some of the medical costs and the costs for the testing for a bone marrow match.

There have been three blood drives held to find a bone marrow match and Michaella's mother Tiffany reports that a match has been found. Tiffany Tzakas said now the family is waiting to see when chemotherapy should begin. "We didn't have a match before so we couldn't have done anything. But now, since we have the match, we are waiting for the doctors to decide what they are going to do," she said.

Michaella was diagnosed just after her fourth birthday in November. Like all little girls, Michaella likes to be active and has taken ballet classes. "She said, 'Mommy, I miss going to ballet school.' I said that I would take her, but, of course, I can't take her. She's not supposed to jump and she's not suppose to get hurt," said Mrs. Tzakas.

The community and the congregation hope that Michaella will be at ballet school again soon. Mrs. Tzakas said, with the bone marrow match, there is a 65 percent chance for survival.

The fundraiser will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10 with a prayer service at the church at 3:30 p.m. followed by a reception at 5 p.m. Tickets are $60 per adult and $25 for children 7-12-years-old. There is no charge for children 6-years-old and under. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the church office at 483-5700 or email piattorney@aol.com. Donations in lieu of tickets should be made payable to "Michaella Tzakas Fund" and mailed to Cathedral of St. Paul, which is located at 110 Cathedral Avenue in Hempstead, NY 11550.

- Joe Rizza