It's that time again, and the New York marathon is coming up next month in November. New Yorkers will be joined by people from across the globe who will come to compete this year. Among the competitors are two Greek women whose goal is to run to promote a good cause.
Athanasia Tsoumeleka is a Greek Olympic Gold Medalist who will run alongside her friend, Mary Liarou, a financial analyst for a Greek Aluminum company. The two will take part in the marathon in aid of the 'Make A Wish' Greece campaign to raise funds for children who suffer illnesses in the hopes of making their dreams come true.
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Athanasia Tsoumeleka (left) and Mary Liarou (right)[/caption]
Tsoumeleka said that she is running for those children who are living in tough times and are exposed to danger. She wants them to know that nothing is impossible when you have faith whether it be faith in life, faith in hope, or faith through a battle. She says, "Have faith and Make a wish, and then everything is possible."
She described the marathon as being an opportunity of a lifetime for so many and is pleased to be running this year. She will also have the chance to meet some of her supporters. Following her 2004 Olympic victory, she had always hoped to meet with the diaspora as she had received so many moving messages from them.
Marathons take place across the globe nowadays at various times of the year, but there is none quite like the New York Marathon. Last year more than fifty thousand people crossed the finish line, making it the world's largest regarding those to complete the race.
Toumeleka said: "I am running in New York with Mary for the beginning and the finishing line." She described crossing the finish line of as being such an intense feeling which one cannot describe without having done it oneself.
Liarou mentioned how both the brain and the soul need to overcome the distress signals in the body and for her, running a marathon is a clash between the body and soul.
Liarou referred to Tsoumeleka as shining example of an Olympic athlete and is excited to join her in the marathon as they both run for a purpose.
Athanasia Tsoumeleka (left) and Mary Liarou (right)[/caption]
Tsoumeleka said that she is running for those children who are living in tough times and are exposed to danger. She wants them to know that nothing is impossible when you have faith whether it be faith in life, faith in hope, or faith through a battle. She says, "Have faith and Make a wish, and then everything is possible."
She described the marathon as being an opportunity of a lifetime for so many and is pleased to be running this year. She will also have the chance to meet some of her supporters. Following her 2004 Olympic victory, she had always hoped to meet with the diaspora as she had received so many moving messages from them.
Marathons take place across the globe nowadays at various times of the year, but there is none quite like the New York Marathon. Last year more than fifty thousand people crossed the finish line, making it the world's largest regarding those to complete the race.
Toumeleka said: "I am running in New York with Mary for the beginning and the finishing line." She described crossing the finish line of as being such an intense feeling which one cannot describe without having done it oneself.
Liarou mentioned how both the brain and the soul need to overcome the distress signals in the body and for her, running a marathon is a clash between the body and soul.
Liarou referred to Tsoumeleka as shining example of an Olympic athlete and is excited to join her in the marathon as they both run for a purpose.