Members of the special forces’ underwater demolition team, chief of staff lieutenant general Georgios Tsitsikostas and MEP Loucas Fourlas braved the icy water of Limassol’s sea on Saturday to “swim with our Little Heroes”, so that no child is fighting cancer alone.

The event, initiated by Fourlas, to support children being treated at the Makarios hospital for cancer, entered its eighth consecutive year on Saturday, in the presence of the House president, ministers, MEPs, MPs, the police and national guard leadership, and representatives of other organisations and services.

Chief of police Themistos Arnaoutis gave the signal for the swimmers to dive into the cold sea and for a march to begin along the promenade of the old Limassol port.

Walkers and swimmers met at the promenade for an event, during which Fourlas said that all participants “sent their love to the children and renewed their promise to meet again next year, on the last Saturday before Christmas”.

House president Annita Demetriou said much could be achieved when unity is shown and congratulated Fourlas for his initiative and all participants.

On behalf of the government, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said the presence of so many people was proof of the will to support the “little heroes”.

The swimmers preparing to take the plunge