There are thousand stories that highlight the human faith and will, even if the opponent is the most difficult one. The runner Panagiotis Panagiotidis, being 24 years old, was called to mobilize all his forces, not as to finish in one of the races of 5,000 and 3,000 meters, but in order to beat cancer. From a young boy, Panagiotis loved athletics. With appearances at national championships, always carefully planning the next race, he was putting new goals, push over the boundaries of performance, having as a dream to participate in the marathon event.

The disease suddenly hit him. It started by the testicles and had metastasis to the lungs. That was the worst for a man, no matter athlete or not. But he did not put it down. Surgeries and chemotherapies were now the barriers separating him from achieving his dream, which-as he only knew- had a small delay just before to its implementation. When the doctors heard him saying that, six months after surgery he will be ready to run, they could not believe it. For him, it did not matter as long as he had faith.

It was December 1993, the same year he had the surgery, when Panagiotidis wore again athletic shoes. And nine years later, having swallowed km to the workouts, he ran in his first marathon, a 42 km race with tremendous difficulties and peculiarities. He did not bend, nor when, because of poor assessment of the race, suffered a leg bone fracture. He did not accept to be received by any ambulance. He walked to the end and reached the apotheosis entering the Marble Stadium.

Since then, Panagiotis takes part in every classic marathon and gave up only once. He continues as he started. By designing carefully the next race, putting new goals.