Thousands of people are participating in the Roparun this weekend, a relay race of over 500 kilometers to raise money for people with cancer. Many participants are involved because they have experienced cancer up close. NU.nl spoke to five of them.
“I saw firsthand how much impact it had.” Sarah Dikker’s (42) upstairs neighbor was affected by cancer twenty years ago. Sarah lived in the United States at the time. “There was no safety net,” she says. “Not financially and not socially. It had an impact not only on her, but on everyone around her.”
Sarah is participating in the Roparun from Paris to the Netherlands this weekend. In total, she will run about 85 kilometers, spread over three days.
From the moment her upstairs neighbor became ill, Sarah realized that life can change completely from one day to the next. “And then you need people. Help, support, closeness. On her deathbed, she urged me: ‘Enjoy now. Cancer happens to you. But what people do for you, that’s what remains.'”
With her participation, Sarah wants to contribute to the safety net that her American upstairs neighbor never had. “From my own experience, I know how much difference that makes.” While running, she keeps the woman, whom she first met twenty years ago, in her thoughts.
The Roparun raises money to make life more bearable for people with cancer. Participants run a relay of more than 500 kilometers spread over three days, running through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The start is Saturday in Paris, the finish in Rotterdam. There is also a start from Enschede.
‘During such a final year, you get very close’
Dayen Drenth-Spijker (51) lost her best friend to cancer eleven years ago, after which she quit her office job and changed her life. Sport became her new goal. The loss of her friend has ensured that she lives more in the moment, doing things she enjoys. She is participating in the Roparun for the first time this year.
A friend of Dayen was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Her sister was told she has a tumor in her head. Talking about it is not easy. Participating is the least Dayen can do, she says. “This is nothing compared to what they all have to endure.” Dayen forms a team together with others from Sleen in Drenthe.
Wim Blaauw (54) is participating for the second time. “My father and mother-in-law both died of cancer and I experienced up close how great the impact is and how important it is to get through that final phase well together.”
Because the money raised during the Roparun goes specifically to cancer patients in the final phase of their lives, Wim is participating. “When our parents became ill, we lived abroad with our family. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands. During such a final year, you get very close to each other.”
Charlotte Pouwels (29) is participating in the Roparun because two close family members have been diagnosed with cancer. Running hard for days is her way of being able to do something. “I really like extreme things. Running 500 kilometers with a team and working your butt off, that sounded good.”
‘My father was with me’
It is the second time that Charlotte has participated. Last year she unexpectedly filled in for a teammate. That was not easy. “I couldn’t walk for two days after the Roparun. I have prepared better this year.” Wim has also trained hard.
With his participation, he hopes to contribute to making the final phase of the lives of cancer patients more bearable. “For example, because they can have a good time in a hospice.” When Wim participated the previous time, he noticed that he had to think about his father more often than usual. “My father was with me, I noticed several times. That will be the case again this time.”
All team members of Charlotte know people who have been affected by cancer, which was often talked about during the run and also in the preparation beforehand. “Everyone has stories. It is sometimes very emotional.”
Completing the Roparun ‘on character’
Thirty-year-old Tessa Govers is traveling to Paris for the third time this weekend. “This is just three days of pure suffering, with everyone together. You only sleep a few hours and then continue.”
Several people in her environment are dealing with cancer. Yet Tessa does not specifically participate because an acquaintance has (had) cancer. She mainly wants to contribute to society.
Tessa is again running this year as part of Team 188 ‘Maak een Vuist’ (Make a Fist), which is participating for the tenth time this year. There are several people in her team who have participated more often. Outside of the Roparun, Tessa does not run much, and this year she has not been able to train as she wanted. Yet she hopes to complete the run, for her between 70 and 80 kilometers, “on character.”
