Give something back #HopeOnABike

This week I participated in a charity bike ride from London to Paris. What an awesome journey this has been! I had the opportunity to meet so many extraordinary people, everyone together with one mission: creating awareness and raising funds for Myeloma, a type of blood cancer arising from plasma cells. During this ride, I got to meet some of the 11(!) patients and listen to their stories. I have the utmost respect for them, being able to complete such a challenge: cycling 500km in 4 days. Also, a lot of their family members joined, some of them buying their first bike only months before this event. Watching them crushing the English and French hills was breathtaking. When we arrived in Paris, passing just besides the Eiffeltower, riding around the Arc de Triomph and seeing all the families and friends at the finish line... Just WOW! I get goosebumps all over again when I think about it. Personally, I don’t have a direct relationship with Myeloma, but I participated for a few combined reasons. One of them was to honour a dear friend - and one of the most positive minded guys I have known - who died of a brain tumor in February this year. I wrote an article about him when we were still having a good laugh and exchanging great stories and wisdom (you can read it here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/emom-mentality-michael-leliaert/).

Sadly, all of us know relatives or friends with some type of cancer and I learnt that Myeloma is so hard to detect. I also heard that some patients are not being given the right treatment, just because of this awareness. Myeloma accounts for 15% of all blood cancers and 2% of all cancers. So I am glad that I can contribute to improving the awareness.

Just have a look at one of the video's that were made during the ride. I think it speaks for itself... So grateful to have met all these incredibly strong people.

I am also raising money to support research. Therefore I have opened a JustGiving account and I organised a fund raising event in August. My friends have helped me raise 1200€ already by organising a "Beer Mile" and I performed "burpees" for money. Major thanks to everyone who helped me this far. However, I am aiming for at least 2000€. In case we can top that, I would be truly grateful. During the London-Paris ride, the participants already raised 200.000￡ alltogether. If you want to donate, please check my fundraising page.

Thank you for reading, sharing and contributing to the Myeloma awareness and research.

Already looking forward to join next year's ride with a huge Mercuri Urval team! Do you want to know more about this mindblowing event, just drop me a message.