AMOUNT RAISED

€222.00

What is Alpe d’HuZes and why?

As many of you know, last April my dearest dad, Sikko Vermeer, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Only a few months later, he passed away. Sadly, his story is shared by many patients: pancreatic cancer is still one of the deadliest cancers there is.

Next June, we will climb Alpe d’Huez to raise money for cancer research, with our team “Sikko’s klasse.”

But Marijne, why climb a mountain in France when you’re surrounded by mountains?

Alpe d’HuZes is Dutch charity event that raises money for KWF, the Dutch cancer research foundation. Every June, around 5000 people walk, ride or run up Alpe d’Huez (yes, sadly we can’t swim up a mountain yet).

Raising money for cancer research as a cancer researcher

It honestly feels a bit strange to raise money for the work I do and am confronted with every day. But as a scientist myself, I do know exactly how much doing something matters. Whether we can do a research project, or even a single experiment, often comes down to whether there’s funding for it.

On top of this, losing my dad this year reminded me even more of why we do this work. We may not be able to cure every cancer, but every small step forward can mean more time with the people we love: more birthdays, more hugs, more phone calls, more time to make memories and also more ordinary days that will mean so so much. Especially for people like my dad, who enjoyed every single second with his loved ones or soaring in the sky, every moment is worth fighting for.

Thank you for supporting us! 🧡