UGA’s Petros Kyprianou Committed to Ride for a CURE

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

University of Georgia track and field coach Petros Kyprianou is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to childhood cancer.

Kyprianou committed $25,000 to Ride for a CURE, which will see the coach travel a total of 3,200 miles from Athens, Ga. to Chicago (roughly 800 miles), and then the entire length of Route 66 (2,400 miles) aboard his favorite motorcycle, a 2018 Indian Chief Dark Horse.

Cancer hits close to home for Kyprianou and is a cause he deeply believes in. Dusan Mitosevic, the first professional coach he worked for, was stricken by cancer. Mitosevic was a professional Serbian soccer player and manager.

“When I see people fighting cancer and I know there are no winners, especially in terminal cases, it does put a lot of things in perspective,” he said. “Just seeing from afar how he battled and handled things without a single complaint about pain really made me think (of) how weak we are and how little things cause us pain.”

Kyprianou, who led Georgia to two NCAA titles in 2018 (women's indoor and men's outdoor), believes Mitosevic’s story could serve to inspire others. Kyprianou saw his mentor and father-in-law continue to lead and succeed at a high level while enduring the illness that took his life in 2018.  

Kyprianou is challenging coaches around the country to step up and join the cause. He has raised $25,250 and his goal is to hit $100,000 before the ride, which takes place from June 14-30. That's less than a week after the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.

“I am anticipating a long, hard drive, but traveling across our country and its legendary Route 66 will bring joy, and yet a sense of motivation, raising money for CURE,” he said. "There is no limit on what we can raise, but for now, I am challenging $100K.”

Click the link below to learn more about Coach Kyprianou’s Ride for a CURE and how you can donate.

https://curechildhoodcancer.org/coachpetros/

Kyprianou On Dusan Mitosevic

Dusan Mitosevic was the first professional coach I worked for. I was his head strength coach at Apollon F.C. in Cyprus back in 2000. We connected immediately as I liked his strict, professional, and attention-to-detail personality. I started observing every professional move and how diligently he would deal with things, always following absolute discipline and professionalism. I remember every day after practice he would sit down and write about 10 pages of practice recap and thoughts. I am doing a very similar thing to date. 

His presence alone would demand respect without saying a word. A true general and prideful leader, he knew his craft so well opposing coaches would call him for advice and tips prior to matches against teams (other than ours of course!). He has motivated me to work hard, advised me in every aspect of the game and professional development, and how to deal with issues, difficult situations, always using a chess-like two-steps-ahead-of-the-game mindset. His brain would go non-stop, always a thinker and a fighter. This ride is a tribute to him, keeping his legacy and name alive, and an afterlife recognition, which in ancient Greece was more important than life-achievement.