Bartosz’s running journey began in 2012 during one of the hardest years of his life.

Weighing around 120 kg and living with diabetes since 1987, he decided to take charge of his health by slowly increasing his activity. As his weight decreased, his endurance grew, allowing him to complete distances from 5 km to 42 km. In 2014, he ran his first marathon, sparking a passion that now brings him to Larnaka for his 24th marathon, which he’s proudly running to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Bartosz also believes in combining his love for running with supporting a cause, proving that “impossible” is just a word when you commit to your goals.

What initially made you interested in running?

2012 was one of the hardest years of my life. Both my professional and personal life were in shambles, and I didn’t know what to do. One day, I just started moving more. Back then, I weighed around 120kg, far too much to start running immediately. But as I began to lose weight, I found I could start jogging, and slowly, running became possible.

Tell us your story, why you run.

I’ve been diabetic since 1987, so I had to approach running carefully, but step by step, I extended my distances. First, I managed 5km, then 10km, and eventually I reached the marathon distance of 42.195km. In 2014, I ran my first marathon, and that’s when running became my passion. Larnaka will be my 24th marathon, and I’m using it to celebrate my 50th birthday. Running long distances helps me prove, to myself and to the world, that impossible doesn’t exist. If you can run, you can do anything.

Have you ever participated in any races or marathons for a charitable cause? What motivated you to combine running with supporting a cause?

Yes, I’ve done it once before. I found that running could not only benefit me personally, but also be a way to help others.

Please give us more details if you are running for a specific cause this year.

This marathon will be my 50th birthday run, a personal milestone that celebrates everything running has done for me.