Dear Friends,

New Year is often accompanied with New Beginnings for most of us. Yet taking a little time to reflect on and recognise those who have had an influence no matter how big or small in our lives over the years can be a rather transformative experience.

To honour the living memory of all those people over the years who benefited my life and character I am raising funds on behalf of the Mace Foundation by taking part in the ‘Inflatable 5k (Guildford)’ event on 11th May 2024. The event is the ultimate 5k inflatable obstacle run in the UK, which is packed with some of the largest and most extreme inflatable obstacles ever created. Please do take a look to see what this challenge is all about and see if this might be something you may consider trying for yourself and thereby contributing to a good cause too. https://youtu.be/xd8rUG4UxW8.

The people to whom I will be for ever grateful includes first and foremost my parents, Rt Rvd. Anthimos Loizou of Pafos, my wife Sofia and our two treasured sons Filippos and Georgios, Constantine II King of the Hellenes nephew to Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh and godfather to The Prince of Wales William, Archbishop Gregory of Thyateira and Great Britain and a very long list of individuals including my teachers, mentors and colleagues, who have been part of my journey and influenced my life in different ways and in different places from Greece to Netherlands, from Germany to France and Spain and from Australia to the US and benefited me in some way, large or small, making me who I am today.

Each of them individually and all of them collectively have inspired me of the strength of building a growth mindset, the importance and wider social impact of kindness, compassion, generosity, wisdom, empathy and courage and the pertinence of being respectful towards the fellow citizen. This challenge is a solemn tribute to all these people who challenged me, supported me, encouraged and celebrated me and with me and through their example helped nurture in me the four ancient cardinal values of of mind and character; prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

To all individuals who benefited my life and character in more ways than I can count, who have helped me discover my strengths and overcome my weaknesses, develop my skills and pursue my passions, find my purpose and achieve my goals, face my fears and overcome my challenges, learn from my mistakes and improve myself, appreciate my blessings and share with others, I want to say thank you again and I will always cherish you in my heart.

Finally, I would like to humbly thank all my supporters, friends and extended acquaintances for your kind gesture through a small or bigger(!) monetary contribution that will go a long way in putting something back to our communities and would be fantastic to see as many of you in April laughing at me as I will be trying to keep my balance (and dignity!) on these inflatables!

Best wishes, Alex

Alexandros-George Kyriakou

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