Turkish Cypriot Completes 24-Hour Run to Support "Angel Champions" and Raise Awareness Against Animal Cruelty

Over the weekend, Turkish Cypriot athlete Kemal Elektrikçi completed a 24-hour run in Northern Cyprus to show support for the families of the “Angel Champions” and to protest against animal cruelty.

The marathon began at 5:00 PM on Saturday and lasted exactly 24 hours. Upon finishing his run, Elektrikçi reached Kızılbaş Park, where he shared the key message behind his campaign.

“The purpose of this run is to show my support for the families of the Angel Champions during the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the collapse of the Isias Hotel,” said Elektrikçi. “I also stand against those who harm animals. Additionally, I want to highlight the process of sleeplessness and the struggle that comes with being an ultramarathoner. No stopping—once you stop, you fail.”

The “Angel Champions” were members of a youth volleyball team from Famagusta who tragically died in the earthquake in Turkey on February 6. The bodies of 35 people were recovered from the wreckage. The sixth hearing in the case concerning the hotel collapse, which claimed the lives of the team members, concluded last week at the Third High Criminal Court in Adıyaman. The court found six defendants guilty of “conscious negligence,” while five others were acquitted.

The owner of the hotel, Ahmet Bozkurt, was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to 17 years and 17 months in prison.