The ascent to the top of the high mountain Mont Ventoux in the South of France symbolizes the tough fight against cancer. Since 2007, the Great Resistance Against Cancer Foundation has ensured that millions of euros have already been raised for cancer research. From Inloophuis Passie in Lelystad, two Lelysted residents compete. Cees Mulder will walk up the mountain on Thursday 7 September and Gerrit de Noord will climb ‘the bald mountain’ on Friday 8 September by bicycle. ‘It is an indescribable experience,’ says Gerrit de Noord.
Inloophuis Passie is there for people with cancer, people who are recovering from this disease and their loved ones. ‘The purpose of the Walk-In House? Offer a listening ear and take your mind off things’, says Cees Mulder. He knows better than anyone how much support it gives to talk about the disease with others. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. During that period I registered with Inloophuis Passie to talk about this with fellow sufferers. If someone in the family gets cancer, the whole family has to deal with it. Unfortunately, my wife did not overcome the disease and passed away four years ago. That’s why I’m extra driven to climb that mountain!’
Cancer out of the world!
Gerrit de Noord climbs the mountain for the seventh time this year. With his enthusiasm about this experience, he also ‘infected’ Cees before the corona period. ‘I wanted to give something back to Inloophuis Passie, because they have given me so much good over the years. In addition, it is also possible to lose some kilos’, jokes Cees. Last year he climbed the mountain for the first time. “I immediately said, ‘I’m never doing this again!’ But later you think differently. It’s something to look forward to. Everyone is there for the same goal: cancer must be eradicated!’
Special exceptions
From his youth Gerrit already found the Mont Ventoux a fascinating mountain. When he turned 65, he decided to brave the mountain for the first time. “It’s a fantastic charity. Half of the money collected goes directly to KWF Kanker Fighting and the other part goes to the charity of your choice: Inloophuis Passie, in other words,’ says Gerrit with conviction. After climbing the mountain the fifth time, he was actually going to quit and become a team supporter. This just turned out a little differently. Last year, Gerrit’s son wanted to participate in the tour for the first time, so of course he couldn’t stay behind. So that was his sixth time! This year he made another exception. ‘I didn’t like the fact that there weren’t any cyclists from the walk-in house. So I had to participate again; my seventh time’, Gerrit laughs.
Impressive
What makes the journey so fascinating, according to the two Lelysted residents, is the solidarity of people who have all been confronted with cancer in their own way. ‘There is always a minute’s silence, which is very impressive,’ says Gerrit. Cees emphasizes the intimacy, because it is small-scale. ‘It can’t be explained in words, you have to experience it yourself.’
Climbing the mountain is not easy. “The last six kilometers are the hardest, because you can see the finish line in every big corner. Your thoughts then only turn to the one you lost to this debilitating disease. It’s like cycling or walking on a lunar landscape, which makes it very fascinating and special’, says Gerrit. As icing on the cake, there is a party in the evening that provides connection and beautiful, emotional conversations. ‘This journey is now in my DNA, I want to hold on to it for as long as possible!’, says Gerrit.
Silent hope
Cees and Gerrit want to collect as much money as possible to enable further research into different types of cancer. ‘After all, everyone will be affected by cancer sooner or later in their lives, so it affects everyone. A lot of money is needed to ensure that this rotten disease can be cured in the future,’ says Cees. Gerrit also remains optimistic: ‘I have the secret hope that we can do this together. It is small, yet very grand. Every year I get goosebumps from all the donations and kind words and deeds’, says Gerrit emotionally, but proudly.
Do you want to support the team of Inloophuis Passie and therefore also KWF Cancer Control? You can donate via: team Inloophuis Passion.
2023-07-11 18:37:00
#Climbing #Mont #Ventoux #DNA
