I'm Thijs van Bommel and, despite I'm very Dutch, I do not (race) bike for sports.

Although a little bit of mountain (NL??) biking...

Nevertheless...I've volunteered to join this fundraising initiative to fight cervical cancer in Rwanda. In September I'm going to bike from Crawley to Amsterdam in 4 days.

Running yes....biking less...

My plan: first, I need to buy a race bike (most likely 2nd hand). Then I will start to train, train, train. Plan is to also train abroad to get used to different climates and heights (....).

And I can assure you; I will make it to the end of the 4-day challenge to the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam!!! All to raise as much money to fight this terrible disease (and help dealing with it) in a country where they have already enough other challenges.

And to do that....I need YOU. Or, to be frank and Dutch, your emotional support and your money...

Me asking my Management Team for support... ;-)

Many thanks for your support!

Thijs

Some background information:

Cervical cancer is a silent killer that claims the lives of a woman every two minutes in the world. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where women lack access to screening and treatment. That's why I'm proud to be part of the Elekta Foundation, a philanthropic organization created in February 2022 with the mission to improve access to cancer care in underserved countries.

The Elekta Foundation focused on Rwanda, where cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. In less than 4 months, they completed a project that tested 20000 women for HPV and treated more than 600 women for precancerous lesions so that they won't develop cervical cancer. Unfortunately, some women have already had cervical cancer. Through the screening, they were diagnosed and are now receiving advanced cancer treatments.

Now they have new challenges to face in their lives. Imagine being diagnosed with cervical cancer and having no support system to help you cope. Imagine facing physical and psychological pain as well as social stigma. Imagine losing your ability to provide for your family and your dreams for the future. This is the reality for many women in rural Rwanda who are suffering from this devastating disease. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. They need our help.

That's why I'm taking part in the "Ride for Rwanda" challenge, a fundraising initiative that aims to raise funds for women with cervical cancer from our screening project. By cycling 100 kilometers in one day for 4 days, I hope to make a difference in their lives.

Your donation can make a huge impact on the lives of women with cervical cancer in Rwanda. The funds will be used to build a community-based support system that includes psychological counseling, social assistance, pain relief, and nutrition. These services are essential to help them recover from their cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. They also help them cope with the emotional and social challenges they face.

With your support, we can give them hope and dignity. We can show them that they are not alone. We can save lives.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion.