No sleep, no stopping: Andreas Nikolaou completes 700km run around Cyprus
Just before 11 pm on 27 July, professional athlete Andreas Nikolaou crossed the finish line at Molos Pier in Limassol, completing a run of more than 700km around Cyprus in aid of SiGMA Foundation and Little Heroes Foundation, supported by OEXN and FX.world.
The challenge, which SiGMA News reported on when Nikolaou set off, saw him return to the exact spot where he started eight days earlier, at midnight on 20 July, averaging just under 90km a day over the course of the run.
Crossing the finish line
Members of the SiGMA team were there to greet him at the finish, and Nikolaou was joined by a group of colleagues and friends who ran alongside him for support in the final stretch.
In the days leading up to the finish, Nikolaou had been sleeping as little as two hours a night, pushing to cover as much ground as possible, and was managing roughly 10km every two and a half to three hours. Then, in the final five kilometres, something shifted. “He gathered whatever power he had left and did the extraordinary, five kilometres in twenty minutes”, said Marina Petasi, Corporate Lawyer at SiGMA Group, who ran alongside him in the final stretch. It proved, she said, that he could do anything he set his mind to.
“Andreas did something remarkable, something I really doubt anyone will ever do again”, she added, describing the experience of running the final five kilometres beside someone fighting himself, both physically and psychologically, as unforgettable. Watching him approach the line with people cheering, she added, was a proud and emotional moment.
Speaking minutes after finishing, Nikolaou said it “feels fulfilling”, adding simply, “I’m happy”.
What it took to get there
Nikolaou’s coach, Stefan Stankovic, was part of a four-person support crew that stayed with him for the full eight days. According to Stankovic, the first three days saw Nikolaou sleeping around three hours a night. From the fourth day after, as the schedule fell behind, he gave up sleeping in any structured way at all, running for long stretches and resting wherever and whenever exhaustion caught up with him, often lying down on the side of the road.
“It doesn’t matter how the week went”, said Stankovic. “The most important part is he’s alive, he’s partly healthy, and he’s at the finish line”. He added that finishing was never guaranteed: “There was a very big chance that he wouldn’t finish, because of reasons outside of his control. But we did the best we could to bring him here at Molos”.
For Nikolaou, the heat was the hardest part of the challenge, present in “most of the moments in the day”. The best moments, by contrast, were whenever he got the chance to sleep.
Backing SiGMA Foundation’s mission
The run raised funds and awareness for SiGMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SiGMA Group. Founded in 2019 by Keith Marshall, Austin Cachia and Eman Pulis, the Foundation has worked to empower underserved people and communities around the world through fundraising activities, charity work, education programmes and skills training.
“Every kilometre Andreas ran represented an opportunity to change lives”, said Alexandra Stefan, Director of Partnerships and Operations at SiGMA Foundation. “The funds raised will support the Foundation’s humanitarian initiatives, with a particular focus on providing life-changing medical support through our partnership with the Little Heroes Foundation, while also helping us continue delivering sustainable projects in communities that need them most”.
Endurance challenges have long been part of SiGMA Foundation’s fundraising model. Over the years, the Foundation has organised thirteen Kilimanjaro climbs, its flagship fundraising event, alongside expeditions such as a trek to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail in Peru, each one raising funds for a specific project on the ground. Nikolaou’s run around Cyprus marks the Foundation’s first pure running challenge of this scale, extending that same model of adventure philanthropy onto the road.
What’s next
Asked what comes next, Nikolaou kept it simple: “to go home and rest and recover”. And if he’d known how hard it would be, would he do it again? “Yes, for sure”, he said.
“You don’t have to run more than 700 kilometres to make a difference”, said Alexandra. “Whether you choose to sponsor, donate, or simply help spread the message, every contribution becomes part of something much bigger. Together, we can turn this incredible challenge into a lasting impact for those who need it most”.
The Foundation’s fundraising calendar doesn’t stop here. Charity auctions are set to take place at SiGMA summits in Mexico City, Rome and Colombo throughout 2026 as part of the SiGMA Awards. The next opportunity to get involved comes soon: a charity art auction at Gaming Meetup Limassol on 07 August, held in collaboration with SiGMA Foundation at Captain’s Cabin Beach, Lady’s Mile.
Every donation to the SiGMA Foundation fuels life-changing projects in healthcare, education, and community development for those who need it most. Whether it’s a one-time gift or regular support, your contribution directly empowers vulnerable communities around the world. Join us to make a lasting difference. Donate today!
