Stefanos doesn’t run just for fitness, he runs to reclaim his life. After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2024, he chose movement over fear. What began as a curious step forward soon became a transformative journey. Running helped him find clarity when MS threatened his vision, and strength when uncertainty crept in. Since then, he has run over 3,000 kilometers, often alone, before sunrise, drawing courage from quiet mornings and even quieter battles.

This year, Stefanos is dedicating his first race official supporting a charity to the Alkinoos Artemiou Foundation, inspired by his daughter’s brave fight against leukemia. For him, running has always meant more than crossing a finish line; it’s about honoring resilience, raising awareness, and showing what’s possible when the human spirit refuses to give up.

What initially made you interested in running?
After I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2024, I didn’t stop moving I started running. At first, it was just curiosity. I wanted to see how far I could go, not physically, but mentally and spiritually. I had no idea I was stepping into something that would change my life forever.

Tell us your story, why you run.
I run because running helped me take my life back. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2024. Instead of giving in to fear, I chose movement. I kept going to the gym, and then one day I decided to run—not for a marathon, but to see how far I could go. That decision changed everything.

I run because movement gave me back my focus, my strength, my hope and even my eyesight, when diplopia threatened to cloud it.

Since then, I’ve logged over 3.000 km, run through heat, rain, and fear. I’ve trained alone, early in the morning, and found peace in dark parks before sunrise.

I run to feel alive. I run because my daughter, who beat leukemia with a smile, showed me what courage looks like. I run because I’ve built a version of myself, I once thought impossible.

Running didn’t just make me strong. It made me free.

Have you ever participated in any races or marathons for a charitable cause? What motivated you to combine running with supporting a cause?
While I haven’t yet run an official race for a specific charity, my entire journey into running began with a deeply personal cause—my own health and resilience after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Running became a symbol of strength, not just for me, but for everyone facing invisible battles.

What truly inspired me was my daughter’s fight against leukemia. Watching her face a two-year treatment plan with a smile reminded me that courage can be quiet and powerful. That’s when I realized running can carry meaning far beyond the finish line.

Now, I see every step as an opportunity to raise awareness and show what’s possible when the human spirit refuses to give up. I would love to run future races supporting causes close to my heart—MS awareness, childhood cancer, and the power of hope.

Please give us more details if you are running for a specific cause this year.
Yes. I’m running for the Childhood Cancer Club of Alkinoos Artemiou, in honor of my daughter’s strength and all the children who fight battles bigger than they should ever have to.

This is my first official race for a cause, but it feels like I’ve been running for something bigger than myself since the very first step.

Supporting Alkinoos Artemiou is a way to give back and to celebrate survival, resilience, and joy.