With the central message “I WILL NOT FORGET” and bearing the words memory, dignity, freedom, and return on their shirts, the runners of the “Isaac-Solomou Memorial Initiative” participated in the 41st Athens Marathon on Sunday, 10 November.
According to a statement from the Initiative, “the freedom runners, following in the footsteps of Pheidippides and embracing all the powerful messages of the classic marathon, brought the message of remembrance to Athens and ran 42 kilometres to convey the significance of the struggle, half a century after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.”
The statement adds that the runners of the “Isaac-Solomou Memorial Initiative,” who every August complete the great journey of motorcyclists in honour of the two heroes of 1996, ran for 42,195 reasons: for Cyprus, which has marked 50 years under Turkish occupation, and to add further meaning to the historic marathon of the Greek capital.
“Without concern for their personal times, with crumpled shirts to symbolise the spirit of memory, historical continuity, and identity, and with the ‘I WILL NOT FORGET’ flag at their forefront, the runners completed the course, expressing their feelings. Receiving applause from marathon spectators and respect from their fellow runners, they bring back to Cyprus the support of Greece through this challenging journey, hoping that someday they will be able to run all the way to Kyrenia,” the statement says.
The freedom runners also paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square on Saturday evening and dedicated the marathon to their recently departed comrade, Konstantinos Pouros Hadjimichael.
Source: CNA/THNE/MK
