Classic car rally in Cyprus raises funds for cancer

A cheque for more than €35,000 was recently presented to the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society by the Cyprus Federation of Classic Vehicles, the money raised by the participants of its 48-Hour rally.

The seventh annual rally, held in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, featured 38 classic cars, of which 29 completed the island-wide race across the Republic, including stages in Limassol, Pafos and Platres.

Ersi Economides, General Secretary of the Federation, said that she was delighted with the generosity of the rally’s drivers and supporters: “Every year we bring in more money and people love to participate because it’s for charity, even classic car owners who don’t normally go to rallies come for the fun of it,” she explains.“It’s fun, it’s for a good cause and people enjoy the social aspect.”

Andros Andreau and co-driver Doros Demetriades were the overall rally winners, their 1963 MGB relegating local classic rally champion and 2008 winner Costas Georgiou and his distinctive 1966 Holden HR161 into second place.

Every year the money raised from the rally helps to fund vital services for cancer sufferers and their families, including home care, a day care centre, counselling and rehabilitation activities provided by the Anti-Cancer Society. 

More than 620 home-care patients received treatment last year, with the day clinic providing care to between 28 to 36 patients per week.

In addition to medical care, the clinic offers patients a range of social and wellbeing activities including music therapy, aromatherapy and hairdressing. The annual bi-communal Cyclamen rally taking place in October will be the next major classic car event on the Federation’s calendar.

It is hoped that this year’s route will mark another milestone in uniting Greek and Turkish Cypriots on both sides of the green line if plans to use the re-opened Limnatis crossing are approved.