Friends and members of the running groups Sea Legs Run and Team Runnins will gather on Sunday to honour the memory of a 27-year-old man killed after the apartment block where he lived in Limassol collapsed on Saturday.
Organisers said the symbolic run will bring together those who knew him, and others, to keep alive the smile and warmth he shared with those around him.
The initiative also aims to send a message of solidarity and provide financial support to his family during a difficult time.
In a post, the organisers said Dex was “a person full of positivity”, who loved Cyprus and treated everyone around him with respect.
“Life was not always easy for him. But no one could tell. He always had a big smile. He appreciated the simple things. He made everyone around him feel welcome,” the post said.
It added that Dex moved to Cyprus to earn a living and support his mother and family.
“Some people bring light wherever they go. Dex was one of them. He showed up for his friends, his family, this community. He was one of us. Always moving. Gone far too soon. Never forgotten. For Dex, we run,” the organisers said.
The post also said organisers are raising money for Dex’s family in Nigeria to support them during this period.
“Please see the link in bio for more info. We are also hosting a memorial run on Sunday. Everyone is welcome,” it added.
The memorial run comes as displaced tenants from the collapsed building gathered outside the rubble on Tuesday, appealing for government help after being left homeless and without identification documents. Some held signs reading “Please help” and “We lost our home and everything”, while local and state authorities traded blame over how long emergency accommodation would remain in place.
Many of the former tenants are foreign workers now facing legal and financial uncertainty. One resident said his passport, identity papers and savings were buried under the concrete, while Germasogeia deputy mayor Christos Papamichael described the aftermath as a serious humanitarian issue. Civil Defence said 18 people were given hotel accommodation and essential supplies with the Cyprus Red Cross after the collapse, and said nine remained in state-funded hotel units while longer-term housing solutions were being sought.
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