Hi!! I'm Malena, a 20-year-old with a passion for rowing. With a decade of rowing experience under my belt, I've had my fair share of challenges, including a recent setback with a herniated disc. But I'm not one to give up easily, and this past year, I've been coaching and working hard to recover. I'm excited to share that I'll be taking on the 100km Ringvaart Regatta in a single scull this May— it's going to be a real test of my endurance and determination.

A few months ago, this wasn’t even an option. After being diagnosed with a herniated disc, I had to step away from rowing. Returning to training has been a gradual process of rebuilding strength, endurance, and having looooots of patience. This challenge is about completing the full, demanding, 100 km at a consistent pace and pushing my limits post-injury.

Alongside this, I'm collecting donations for the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) through the Healing Heart Fund. At CARIM, scientists work on understanding and treating cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and vascular disorders. Their work focuses not only on preventing disease, but also on how the heart and blood vessels adapt, recover, and function under stressors.

Having spent time in this research environment myself, I’ve seen firsthand how relevant this work is. My own experience of rebuilding from injury has helped me appreciate the importance of cardiovascular health and how the body adapts, how it fails, and how it can be trained back to performance.

You can show your support for me and cardiovascular research by making a donation, whether it's a small or large amount, or even sponsor a portion of the distance (€1 per kilometer = €100 for the entire distance).

Learn more about the Healing Heart Fund here: https://www.ufl.nl/en/projects/healing-heart-fund/