The “Race of Love 2026,” a challenging 165-kilometer cycling route centered on giving and solidarity, was presented by the Cyprus Red Cross and the Lexus Cycling Dream Team during a press conference held on Wednesday, October 14, at the Cyprus Red Cross Headquarters in Nicosia.
This year’s Race of Love will take place on November 6 and 7, 2026, and is dedicated to the “Stella Soulioti” Children’s Therapeutic Center of the Cyprus Red Cross. Members of the Lexus Cycling Dream Team will cover 165 challenging kilometers off-road, starting in Nicosia and ending at the “Stella Soulioti” in Limassol.
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The goal of this year’s effort is to raise funds to upgrade the Center’s services and infrastructure and to enhance the care and support it provides to children, young people, and their families.
The President of the Cyprus Red Cross, Ms. Fotini Papadopoulou, emphasized the event’s significant social impact, noting that it is an initiative that combines sports with human solidarity. As she noted, all proceeds from sponsors and public donations will go toward supporting the “Stella Soulioti” Therapeutic Center, which offers specialized therapies to infants, children, and young people up to age 22. At the same time, she called on the public to embrace and support this year’s effort, emphasizing that “every donation, big or small, translates into love, generosity, and hope for a child in need.”
For his part, Mr. Dickran Ouzounian, speaking on behalf of the Lexus Cycling Dream Team, noted the evolution of the Race of Love into an annual charitable institution, which is taking place this year for the fifth consecutive year. “A hobby and a group of people who love cycling have evolved into a team that, every year, strives to turn kilometers and personal effort into meaningful help for our fellow human beings, especially children in need,” he noted.
Mr. Ouzounian expressed his hope that with this year’s event, the team’s total donations will exceed €100,000, emphasizing that the success of every Race of Love depends on the collective effort of the cyclists, sponsors, partners, and volunteers. Referring to this year’s cause, he emphasized the importance of supporting the “Stella Soulioti” Therapeutic Center so that even more children and families can have access to the care they need. “Every contribution counts. Every bit of support counts. And every kilometer can make a difference,” he noted.
A Tradition of Giving
The Lexus Cycling Dream Team, which consists of business leaders, has turned its members’ shared love of cycling into an annual tradition of giving back to the community. Through the “Races of Love” held in previous years, more than €80,000 has been raised for charitable causes. All proceeds go directly to the respective cause, as team members personally cover the costs of their participation.
The “Race of Love 2026” is organized with Platinum Sponsors Lexus Cyprus and Freedom24. SupportCY and the Rotary Clubs of Cyprus are supporting the event, while KINTO is the Mobility Partner. Airtrans is a Gold Sponsor, and Baker Tilly, BBF, Brinks, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus), and Staroil are Silver Sponsors. The initiative is also supported by Fameline, Mitsides, Cyprus Airways, CYTA, and Sevegep.
Donations have already begun, and the public can support the “Race of Love 2026” through the event’s official page on the Cyprus Red Cross website.
