Andrey & Julia Dashin’s Foundation and Kyrenia Nautical Club join forces to empower para-athletes

Reaffirming its commitment to inclusion and community empowerment through sports, Andrey & Julia Dashin’s Foundation has sponsored the construction of a sea ramp and provided a sea wheelchair with additional equipment at the Nautical Club of Kyrenia (NOK). This new infrastructure ensures safer, more accessible training conditions for para-athletes and their coaches, further strengthening NOK’s mission.

As part of this sponsorship, the Foundation was invited to attend this year’s annual kayak tournament, held in memory of the 13 fallen heroes of the 2011 Mari disaster. The event brought together more than 100 participants, from 5 to 70 years old, including para-athletes. The races covered distances from 5 km to 20 km, concluding with an awards ceremony at the Kyrenia Nautical Club.

Representing the Foundation, Nataliya Ryaba, Head of Andrey & Julia Dashin’s Foundation, joined the President of the Kyrenia Nautical Club, Mr Florentzos Karayiannas, alongside trainers and other sponsors, to present awards to the participants.

On the occasion of the sponsorship, Andrey Dashin, Founder of Andrey & Julia Dashin’s Foundation, commented: “Sports unite people and communities, empowering individuals to unlock their inner strength and discover their true potential. Through this contribution, we anticipate making para kayaking in Cyprus even more inclusive, safe, and accessible, allowing both children and adults to grow through sport”.

The event, officially supported by the Cyprus Canoe Federation, highlighted the strength, talent, and determination of Cyprus’s kayaking community. Notably, one of NOK’s teenage para-athletes, Tyrimou Panagiotis, is preparing to represent Cyprus at the Paralympic World Championship in Milan this August.