On 19 November, Cypriot ultrarunner Theodoros Sofokleous will set off from Athens on a journey that will take him to Sparta and back, covering almost 490 kilometres in one of the world’s most demanding endurance races.
His goal, however, doesn’t stop at the finish line. Through the charity campaign “490 km for Every Child Born in Cyprus,” he is helping raise €60,000 for the Center for Preventive Paediatrics “Americos Argyriou,” with the funds going towards developing the country’s Newborn Screening Programme.
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The initiative is organised by the ENA Foundation, in partnership with the Centre, and aims to improve early detection of serious congenital conditions in newborns.
A 490km Challenge For Children In Cyprus
Sofokleous will compete in the Authentic Pheidippides Run, taking place in Greece from 19 to 23 November 2026.
The race follows the Athens–Sparta–Athens route, with participants travelling approximately 243 kilometres in each direction. The officially measured distance is 485.3 kilometres, rounded to 490 kilometres in the campaign’s name.
Runners have a maximum of 98 hours to complete the route.
Sofokleous is an experienced ultra-distance athlete who holds Cypriot records in the 12-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour and six-day disciplines.
According to the campaign organisers, no Cypriot athlete has previously completed this particular race. Sofokleous hopes to become the first, dedicating his effort to the children of Cyprus and to the memory of his mother.
Why Newborn Screening Needs Support
Since 1989, the Center for Preventive Paediatrics “Americos Argyriou” has operated a newborn screening programme offered free of charge to babies born in Cyprus.
Newborn screening involves collecting a small blood sample during the first days of life to identify certain serious conditions before symptoms appear. Early detection can allow treatment to begin sooner, helping prevent complications that may otherwise affect a child’s health and development.
Currently, the programme screens for two conditions: congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria (PKU).
The €60,000 fundraising campaign aims to support the addition of three more:
- Galactosaemia (GAL): A rare inherited condition affecting the body’s ability to process galactose, a sugar found in milk.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): A group of inherited conditions affecting the adrenal glands and their production of essential hormones.
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: An inherited condition that can cause red blood cells to break down in response to certain triggers.
Expanding screening from two conditions to five would represent a step towards implementing the Cyprus Council of Ministers’ decision to gradually increase the number of conditions covered to ten.
Where Will The €60,000 Go?
According to the organisers, all proceeds from the campaign will be directed towards strengthening and expanding the Centre’s Newborn Screening Programme.
The funds will contribute to the purchase of specialised laboratory equipment, the development of new testing methods and the scientific validation of those tests.
They will also support the analysis of samples needed to establish appropriate reference ranges and the development of laboratory procedures to ensure reliable and accurate screening.
The initiative forms part of the ENA Foundation’s wider philanthropic activities. Founded by Tasos Papanastasiou and co-founded by Christiana Panayi, the foundation supports projects addressing social needs in Cyprus.
How To Donate
Members of the public can contribute directly to the “490 km for Every Child Born in Cyprus” campaign through the Center for Preventive Paediatrics “Americos Argyriou”.
Donations can be made in amounts of €5, €10, €20, €50 or €100, or donors can choose their own amount.
Contributions are deposited directly into a designated fundraising account in favour of the Centre, under fundraising licence N.P. 49/2026.
Support the campaign and help expand newborn screening in Cyprus.
Donate to the 490km for Every Child Born in Cyprus campaign
Every contribution will help the organisers work towards their €60,000 target, supporting the introduction of additional screening tests for newborns across the island.
