…Something from the 1st Road Race for Panhellenic Fans’ Day…
When we decided to swim in waters that were deep and uncharted for us, and to try to organize a road race with two starting points of 5km and 10km—a race where participation would be free and all participants would be awarded a medal, so that as many people as possible could learn about the existence and establishment of February 1st (the day Alkis Kampanos was murdered) as Panhellenic Fans’ Day…
…We knew almost nothing!!
…We did not know if we would find the more than 120 volunteers and rescuers who were ultimately needed.
…We did not know if we would be able to sensitize (raise awareness) the media to communicate the Race to society.
…We did not know if or how much participation we would have.
The only thing we knew was that, beyond the financial cost we undertook, we would do our utmost to implement one crucial parameter:
The safety of everyone who would participate.
This was fully achieved, despite the many reservations from citizens and institutions that we faced before the organization of the Race.
We also did not know that we would be able to sensitize (raise awareness) people beyond Thessaloniki (runners from Athens and other Greek cities took part) and even beyond Greece.
Thus, a young man from Spain not only took part but also finished first, with a huge lead over the second runner!
We wish to highlight this participation and to introduce/present Dani Tomè to the public.
He was born in Zamora, in Northwestern Spain, 23 years ago.
He came to Thessaloniki through the Erasmus program, at the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), in the Sculpture department.
There, at AUTH, he saw the poster for the 1st Road Race for PANHELLENIC FANS’ DAY; he decided to participate and, surprising everyone, finished first with a massive lead in the 10km route.
When Dani is not running in middle-distance races, he enjoys painting, playing the electric guitar, and watching football matches.
He was aware of the goals of the Race, he knew about Alkis, and he felt very strong emotions when, while running, he left a flower at the site of the murder and when, at the finish line, he spoke with Alkis’s parents.
Just as he was moved and gained strength to maintain his fast pace when he was cheered on by the runners at the 5km starting point and by everyone who saw him along the New Waterfront of Thessaloniki.
In two months, Dani completes the Erasmus program and will depart from Thessaloniki.
However, he wished to express his desire to return and participate in the 2nd Race, on Sunday, February 2nd, 2026, IF the “Structure February 1st, 2022 – In the Name of Alkis” manages to organize it again.
You can read about Dani and our meeting with him on the blog of our website www.inthenameofalkis.com
