Sirens’ Call women’s charity swim returns to Paralimni

Paralimni, Cyprus. The Sirens’ Call, a 1km women’s community swim held earlier in August, returned for its second edition to raise funds for the Arodaphnousa Palliative Care Centre of the Cyprus Anticancer Society.

The event invited women of all ages to swim together, with participants able to complete as much of the route as they wished, using masks and fins or swimming without them.

Origins of the Sirens

The group began in the early years of the millennium, when four friends started snorkelling and exploring the sea around Protaras, according to co-founder Bobbe Theoklitou.

“We called ourselves the Sirens as a joke. As the years went by our group became bigger,” Theoklitou said.

Theoklitou said she lost her husband to pancreatic cancer four years ago and wanted something meaningful to emerge from the loss. The group agreed to swim in support of the Cyprus Anticancer Society.

“Out of the four original sirens three of us have lost our husbands. And we dedicate this event to their memory,” she said.

Growing participation

The first event, held in the summer of 2025 and organised by the Sirens and the Cyprus Anticancer Society, raised €19,000.

This year’s event was larger, with drones, cameras, photographers, DJs, support from Paralimni Municipality and corporate sponsors. A total of 120 women registered to take part.

Swim safety and support

At Scouts Beach, participants registered and received wristbands, which were returned after the swim to help organisers confirm that everyone had come back from the water.

Women of different ages and body types gathered before the swim, with returning participants sharing advice and encouragement. Completing the full 1km was not a requirement for taking part.