UK born, Xanthy Papageorgiou was selected to represent Cyprus as the Country’s Official Runner and Flag Bearer at The New-York Marathon on the 3rd November 2019.  The New-York Marathon, the largest globally with more than 50,000 finishers and one of the World Marathon Majors saw, 29 year old Xanthy complete 26.2 miles / 43 kilometres across the 5 Boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan.

With parents from the Cypriot villages of Anafotia and Lympia, Xanthy was joined by her 3 sisters Eleni, Vasiliki, Constantia and God-Brother Alexis whom all travelled from London, UK to support her on the day.

Upon passing the finishing line, proudly holding the Cyprus flag above her shoulders, Xanthy said “it’s been an absolutely amazing experience to complete the marathon in one of the greatest cities in the world but even more so, to represent my country of origin at the same time. I want to thank everyone that has supported me along the way especially my family and friends back in London and Cyprus”.

Xanthy who is raising funds for The British Heart Foundation, dedicated the run to her late grandmother Eleni Petrou from (Lympia, Cyprus) who passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 2008. Xanthy added “I am raising funds for the research to discover new cures and the lifesaving treatments for both current / future patients, giving them the greatest chance for survival and a longer life”.