By Alexia Vlachou
MATI, Greece, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sunday's Athens 36th Authentic Marathon honored the victims of the devastating wildfire in eastern Attica that resulted in 99 casualties on July 23.
Wearing black T-shirts and holding black balloons, residents and survivors of the fire-stricken areas formed a human chain covering the four kilometers of scorched earth of the Marathon route raising banners that read "We are running our own Marathon and we will win".
Marathon runners went through the 12nd to the 16th km of the 42 kilometers original route, paying their respects to the victims as well.
Many of them wore green headbands to support the reforestation process of the region, an initiative introduced by the organizers of the Marathon.
"We want to send a message of hope and optimism. All united we can revive Mati," Maria Antzouli, resident of Mati and marathon runner told Xinhua.
Maria dressed in black to honor the victims along with other residents of Mati run the Classic Marathon to keep alive the tragedy that claimed 99 lives and led to the total destruction of the natural environment of the seaside resorts in eastern Attica.
"The classic Marathon spreads messages of strength and persistence. The same meaning, we want to share with the public. We keep on fighting, we insist on pursuing what we are entitled to get," she stressed.
"We are determined to make Mati and all the other destroyed areas the paradises that were before the disaster," Peggy Karatzopoulou-Vavali, another resident of Mati who took part in the human chain, told Xinhua.
Though Greek government stepped up efforts to support the fire-stricken areas in Attica with a series of measures to help fire victims, residents mentioned stalling of the procedures demanding more actions in order to get back to normal as quick as possible.
"The message is to rise from the ashes. For that to happen, more action needs to be taken and more things need to be done. We need solidarity from all the people and not to be forgotten," she noted.
