The ENA Foundation, founded by Tasos Papanastasiou and co-founded by Christiana Panagi, announces the launch of the charity campaign “490 Kilometers for Every Child Born in Cyprus,” with the goal of raising €60,000 for the “Amerikos Argyriou” Center for Preventive Pediatrics. The proceeds will support the Newborn Screening Program so that more serious diseases can be detected early in children born in Cyprus.
The campaign is endorsed by ultra-distance runner Theodoros Sophocleous, who will participate in the Authentic Pheidippides Challenge from November 19 to 23, 2026. This is one of the most challenging road races in the world, during which he will cover the Athens–Sparta–Athens route, a total distance of 490 kilometers, in four days.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
This distance is equivalent to more than eleven consecutive marathons and is part of an effort with a purpose far greater than the race itself: to support the campaign to raise €60,000 for the “Amerikos Argyriou” Center for Preventive Pediatrics and to raise public awareness about the importance of early diagnosis. To date, no Cypriot athlete has managed to finish
this race.
Screening for 2 to 5 Conditions
Newborn screening can detect serious congenital conditions from the very first days of a child’s life, even before any symptoms appear. Early diagnosis can allow for immediate referral for appropriate treatment and care, before serious complications arise.
Today, every child born in Cyprus, through the Newborn Screening Program implemented by the “Amerikos Argyriou” Center for Preventive Pediatrics, is screened free of charge for two congenital disorders: congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria.
With the expansion of the program, the number of conditions screened for increases from two to five, offering more opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Through this funding, the “Amerikos Argyriou” Center for Preventive Pediatrics will be able to cover the costs of including the three new conditions:
● Galactosemia (GAL)
● Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
● Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency
Their inclusion will be a significant step toward implementing the Cabinet’s
decision to gradually expand the range of conditions covered by the
program from two to ten in total.
Where the €60,000 Will Be Allocated
The funds raised through the campaign will be allocated exclusively to strengthening
and upgrading the Newborn Screening Program to include the
three new conditions.
Specifically, it will contribute to:
● the purchase of specialized laboratory equipment,
● the development and implementation of new laboratory methods,
● the verification and scientific validation of the new tests,
● the analysis of a large number of samples to establish the necessary reference ranges
,
● development and implementation of the laboratory protocols required to ensure
the reliability, quality, and safety of the tests.
Support this effort: https://ena.org.cy/ta-programmata-mas/asteri-tis-iridas/athina-sparti
athina/
Donations will be deposited directly into the fundraising account of the “Amerikos Argyriou” Center for Preventive Pediatrics (Fundraising Account Number: N.P. 49/2026).
For more information or media inquiries, please contact the ENA Foundation by email at [email protected] or by phone at 22-777011.
