Events and News Archive

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Creditwest Bank Treasure Hunt a Huge Success

Thanking our sponsor Creditwest
Creditwest

The 19th Creditwest Bank Car Treasure Hunt took place on Sunday, 17 May 2026, in support of Tanyel’s Smile. Starting from Creditwest Bank in Alsancak, participants collected their instructions before setting off on a two-hour route devised by Paul and Jane Ashworth.

A total of 20 teams, comprising 71 participants in vehicles plus 12 others in support vehicles, took part in the event. Independent MP for Girne, Jale Refik-Rogers, officially flagged the teams off.

The finish line was at Suna’s Beach Club in Lapta, where answers were checked and prizes awarded. Initially, four teams tied for first place — “Family Campers”, “Bella Brigade”, “Unstoppables”, and “Karsi 4” — with tie-breaker questions determining the final podium order. A consolation prize was awarded to the last-placed team, “Trofi Mafia”.

Following an introduction to the charity by Gülay and Ceyhun Uzun of Tanyel’s Smile, a special presentation was made by Figen Kaymak of Creditwest Bank to Brian Hardie, in memory of Corinna Philips, the founder of the Car Treasure Hunt.

All teams were congratulated, with organisers pleased to note that not a single team got lost along the route. The event raised a total of 112,000 TL and £590 for Tanyel’s Smile, a charity that helps create lasting memories for children receiving treatment at the Lefkoşa State Hospital Oncology Ward.

Special thanks were extended to Creditwest Bank for sponsoring the event, and to its staff — including Çatalköy branch manager Figen Kaymak and Alsancak branch manager Deniz Oralman — for their invaluable support. Joanne Hickey, Creditwest Bank’s Expat Customer Relations representative, played a major role in organising the event alongside Issy Atahasan.

Appreciation was also expressed to Suna’s Beach Club for generously hosting the event and providing lunch, and to its proprietors and managers for their warm hospitality.

Gratitude was extended to Jale Refik-Rogers for her involvement, to Paul and Jane Ashworth for devising the route, and to the many local businesses who donated raffle prizes: Olive Press Bowls Club (Lapta), Alta Marea Restaurant (Karaoğlanoğlu), Peri’s Fish Restaurant (Karaoğlanoğlu), Spice Garden (Esentepe), Suna’s Beach Club (Lapta), Aspava Restaurant (Yedidalga), Gillham Winery, The Wine Garden, Etel Wine Centre, Best Seller Book Shop (Karakum), Supreme Supermarket (Çatalköy), and Şengün Supermarket (Bahçeli).

The charity reflected that the day was a wonderful blend of fun, community spirit, and generosity, ensuring vital support for the children of the Lefkoşa State Hospital Oncology Ward and their families, helping them create cherished memories through Tanyel’s Smile.

A big thank you to all those involved.

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Line Dancing and Fundraising

Line Dancing

Our Line Dance fundraising event took place on Saturday, 2nd May, in Çatalköy, and what a fantastic day it was!

A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible: our instructor Kerry, who generously volunteered her time to lead the class; the owners of The Lodge Bar in Kyrenia, who kindly provided the venue free of charge; and all the wonderful participants who came along to take part in this fun-filled fundraising day.

Together, you raised an incredible amount for Tanyel’s Smile — 19,910 Turkish Lira (approximately £325) plus an additional £40. Your generosity and enthusiasm made the day truly special.

A special mention goes to Issy and Debbie, whose dedication continues to make events like this possible across North Cyprus, and to Creditwest for their ongoing sponsorship and presence on the day.

This event also had a wider significance, as the North Cyprus Line Dance Community proudly participated in the International Line Dance Flashmob 2026, making it a truly global occasion to remember.

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Creditwest Bank – Treasure Hunt 17th May 2026

Creditwest Treasure Hunt

We are so thrilled to announce that The Creditwest Bank Catalkoy Kibris is supporting us at the first fundraising event  for Tanyel’s Smile this year.

Save the date and join us for a fun day out, raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

We’d like to extend a massive thank you to The Credit West Bank Catalkoy Kıbrıs for choosing Tanyel’s smile to sponsor in 2026. Your incredible support means a lot to us and the many children and families we support. Thank you!

Also, we’d like to offer a big welcome to Ismail Atahasan, of North Cyprus Pulse Social Media Facebook group, who is representing us in Northern Cyprus (TRNC). We are so pleased to have you onboard.

We hope you can join us in may, and look forward to updating you with more details in the near future. Watch this space!

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Half-term Reports Day

Children making pizza

In January, we had the pleasure of taking the children and their families to celebrate their half term reports day . 

At Slice of Life Pizza restaurant in Nicosia Cyprus the children under treatment at the oncology ward and also those from Kemal Saraçoğlu foundation were given the chance  to make their own pizzas .  It was also a great chance to catch up with the families we continue to support and give plenty of love from Tanyel’s Smile . 

Thank you to everyone who made this happen and  in particular the venue for hosting the event – we extend our heartfelt thanks to the restaurant owners for hosting this memorable event.

We hope this is helping bring some smiles to our children and their families as they experience these very difficult times. 

The Tanyel's Smile team and the chef at the restuarant
The Tanyel’s Smile team and the chef at the restuarant
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New Year Celebrations

Children with presents and Santa

New year presents were given out to the children at the oncology unit at Lefkosa collected by Issy and Debbie on behalf of Tanyel’s Smile. who are now our representatives in North Cyprus.

Thank you so much from the amazing people on Facebook North Cyprus Pulse group .

We are so very grateful for you generosity and keeping our children fighting cancer full of smiles.

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September Bike Ride Organised by Greenpedal Cycles

Cycling Team

This event was something Ceyhun had been discussing with the cycling team that supported us during our London-to-Cyprus ride in 2023. It was held as part of our fundraising efforts for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September.

On 7th September, Tanyel’s dad, Ceyhun Jay Uzun, along with many other cyclists, joined our dear friends from the Greenpedal Cycling Club for a ride starting in Famagusta and finishing at the oncology unit in Nicosia.

A massive thank you to Greenpedal for organising this fundraising event and raising enough funds to purchase an ECG device and five tablets for the children’s oncology unit, where we continue to provide support.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us on this meaningful day, donated, and supported us.

Your contributions, as always, make a huge difference x

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A short break for the children and their families

Acupulco Hotel

A massive thank you to everyone for your donations, support, and fundraising efforts. Your continued generosity helps us share Tanyel’s infectious smile with other children facing the trauma of cancer, just as our beautiful Tanyel did.

We were delighted to give children, families, and siblings the chance to enjoy a wonderful summer break on 3rd and 4th September at Acapulco, all-inclusive.

Our group included 138 people, along with the Kemal Saraçoglu Foundation and Tanyel’s Smile.

A special thank you to Yiliz, the group organiser at Acapulco, for arranging everything and making this experience extra special for our families.

We are grateful to have partnered with the Kemal Saraçoglu Foundation again this year and appreciate their help in organising this event while we were in London.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the families and children involved for the love and kindness they continue to share with us. It is such a privilege to come together for our children.

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February half term with children and their families

Lunch at the Big Chef

On Saturday 2nd February Tanyel’s Smile arranged a half term meal for the children and families at Big Chef in North Cyprus.

Thank you to Kemal Saraçoglu Lösemili and to Çocuklar ve Kanserle Savas Vakfi (a charity based in Cyprus helping children with cancer and their families) who provide support and communications when we are living in London. This is always a massive support for us as we are updated and informed about the children diagnosed, treatments and any other difficulties or financial help that we are able to offer help with.

Çocuklar ve Kanserle Savas Vakfi contacted the children’s families and helped make this lovely happen, as well as joining us for this very special day.

Thank you to Canan and all the staff at Big Chef who made this day run as smoothly as possible for our group of 60.

It gives me and Cey so much joy to see the wonderful children and families, who greatly appreciate the support we can provide with your help. We are so very grateful for every penny donated to keep Tanyel’s infectious smile alive thank you

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A Welcome Break

A lovely break at Accupolco

On the 12th and 13th September Tanyelssmile and Kemal saracoglu were  delighted to fund a two day, one night stay for children with on-going treatment, their siblings and parents at the Acapulco Resort in North Cyprus.

We were honored to work in partnership with Kemal Saraçoğlu again and would like to extend a massive thank you to you for organizing this event in our absence. We are always so grateful for your support and keeping us up to date on the progress of our children.

We’d also like to offer a massive thank you to the families and children involved…you are the ones that make it worth all the dedication and fundraising.  It was such a privileged to spend a few days together

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Talking Round Cyprus Podcast – The Cycling Copper One

Cycling Copper

Roger Bara and Sara Palmer talk all things North Cyprus with people who live, work, visit and love the place. Their hopie to open peoples’ eyes to this forgotten corner of Cyprus.

This episode features an interview with Tanyel’s father Ceyhun Uzun discussing his life before and after the loss of his daughte.

The Cycling Copper One – There can be few things worse in life than losing a child. Gulay and Jay Uzun lost their daughter Tanyel to cancer. From a place of darkness comes light as they now help other youngsters in the North Cyprus who have cancer. Jay tells us how he copes and about his cycle from London to North Cyprus.

The episode can be found here.