On the morning of July 19, a stretch of Georgiou Griva Digeni that is usually all traffic and coffee runs filled up with bikes instead. Riders gathered outside Biamo Cafe from 8 a.m., wheels out by 8:30, for the first cycling marathon of Larnaca. David Spyrou Group was proud to back it. July in Larnaca is not a month that rewards lie-ins, so the early start was less a challenge than a kindness. What brought people out was not the route or the distance. It was where the money was going, and the fact that a few hours on a bike could send it there.
What Was Larnaca’s First Charity Cycling Marathon For?
The event was a community ride, not a race. No prize money and no pressure to finish in front. Every euro raised went to Iliaktida Zois, the Larnaca district association that supports children with disabilities.
The loop stayed inside the city, which made it friendly for anyone who does not ride 100 kilometres on a Sunday. Riders rolled out through the centre, past the Church of Saint Lazarus, down along the Mackenzie strip and back up toward the salt lake side of town before returning to the start. Flat, coastal and shaded in places, it was over before the July heat became a problem.
Who is Iliachtida Zois?
Iliachtida Zois was founded in 1997 by a group of Larnaca mothers who wanted their children’s therapists under one roof instead of scattered across the district. It now runs as a therapeutic centre offering physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education and social work to children up to the age of 18, and it doubles as a support point for their parents. Funding for that work comes largely from the community, which is exactly what a charity cycling marathon is good at.
Why Did We Sponsor and How Can You Be a Part of it Next Time?
If you missed this one, you can still donate to Iliachtida Zois directly, or watch our social media for details when the next charity cycling marathon is announced. The hard part is getting there. After that, it is just a nice ride with company.
Most of our work sits in property, tax and investment advice, which is not the first thing you picture at a start line. But Larnaca is where our clients live and where our team lives. Sponsoring a charity cycling tour meant putting money into a service that families here rely on week after week, doing so in a way people could actually turn up to and is a part of how we stay useful to the place we work in. If you have a question about buying, selling or holding property here, get in touch. We’ll see you at the next marathon.