The event “We swim again this year with our UYK friends for our own Little Heroes” was very touching

The event “We swim again this year with our UYK friends for our own Little Heroes” was a great success this morning along the Limassol beach, sending the message “no child should fight alone”.

For the fifth consecutive year, a few days before Christmas, the inspirer of the Little Heroes, Loukas Fourlas, dived into the icy waters, together with the team of reserve frogmen, the divers of the Cyprus Police, the Minister of Defence Haralambos Petridis, the Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides, the Mayor of Nicosia Konstantinos Yiorkatzis, the Founder of the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Makarios Hospital Dr. Loizos Loizou and the Ambassador of the Elpida Foundation George Angelopoulos, where they swam from the Olympion Beach (Thalassaki café) to the dock of the old Limassol harbour.

It is an effort of financial and psychological support and strengthening of the children who are fighting their own battle in the Pediatric Oncology Department of Makareio Hospital and their families, having all of us as their allies.

The start for the swim was given by the Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou and the swimmers were accompanied to the finish by the CYjetski team, with its President Mario Kadis, joining them after the completion of the four-day 200-kilometre sea route. Along with them were the children from the Pancyprian Athletic Association of Small Boat Owners (Laser type).

Alongside the swimming, the “March of Love” took place along the beach to the dock of the old Limassol harbour, with the President of the Limassol

House of Representatives Anita Demetriou to signal the start and a crowd of people marching to the finish line.

It is worth noting that the Police helicopter also made its appearance at the event, which carried out diving by the Special Rescue Team, during the start and finish, near the dock of the old port.

In his statements, the inspirer of the Little Heroes, Loukas Fourlas, thanked all those who swam alongside him and promised that he will never stop fighting for the Little Heroes. He gave special thanks to Mr George Georgiadis, the first graduate of the Frogman School, who, although 80 years old, swam next to him and sent many messages.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anita Demetriou, noted that there are not enough words for such acts of humanity and thanked Loukas Fourlas and his team for delivering lessons to everyone. “No child should be alone in facing this challenge, this test. Cancer is not invincible. We are here and will be here to support this effort,” he said.

Defence Minister Charalambos Petridis spoke about the excellent initiative of Loukas Fourlas, which has become an institution a week before Christmas with love and support for the Little Heroes, for those who really need it.

For his part, Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides said that our thoughts and actions must be next to the Little Heroes.

Police Chief Stelios Papatheodorou stressed that the Cyprus Police was present today at this event which has been established for five years as part of its social responsibility. “We continue to support the Little Heroes. We hope every child gets the assistance they need,” he said.

The Founder of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Makarios Hospital Dr. Loizos Loizou thanked Loukas Fourlas for raising awareness with their actions throughout society and much more for supporting financially and psychologically the children and their families.

The Ambassador of the Elpida Foundation George Angelopoulos congratulated his brother Loukas Fourlas, as he called him. “It’s an honour for me to swim with the first NYC and for everyone who participated,” he said.

Limassol Mayor Nicos Nicolaides noted that the people of Limassol became a huge embrace to support the Little Heroes and sent a message of love and solidarity. At the same time, he thanked Loukas Fourlas for activating the best feelings and emotions of this society.

George Stylianou, a former cancer patient, participated in the swim, who noted that he will never stop running, swimming and cycling for a better world, more beautiful, more human, sending messages of solidarity and humanity.

All measures required under the Ministry of Health’s protocol against the spread of COVID-19 were observed at the event.

Contributions to support the Little Heroes can be made to the account:

Bank of Cyprus

• No. Account: 357036271227 “KOLYMPI”
• IBAN: CY82002001950000357036271227
• BIC: BCYPCY2N