Support Niels van Opzeeland with his Tour for Life

Support Niels van Opzeeland with his Tour forLife15Minutes estimated reading time

Categories: News, Partners & Team

Niels van Opzeeland is a man with a mission. In daily life, he works as an experienced project manager and consultant at Bart & Partners. But as soon as he can, Niels will trade his desk chair for the bicycle saddle in the coming months to train for Tour for Life. A 1,300 kilometer bike ride from Italy to the Netherlands with the aim of raising as much money as possible for cancer research. We were curious to hear the story behind Niels' mission, which we wholeheartedly support. So we sought him out and asked him about it.

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Niels, why are you participating in Tour for Life?

Primarily to raise money for cancer research. Unfortunately, I still see many people around me who have to deal with cancer. All forms of cancer together are still the number one cause of death in the Netherlands. So more research is needed.

The little I can do, then, is something like this. Using myself, my time and my leg muscles to raise sponsorship money. As a participant, you have to raise a minimum of 2,500 euros. All that money goes to the Daniel den Hoed Fund, which funds scientific cancer research conducted by the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute.

You've already cycled the Tour for Life once, in 2021. How did that idea come about?

The trigger was my brother-in-law. He got pancreatic cancer in 2016, which is a very nasty kind. Usually it takes a few weeks and then it's over. He caught it fairly early, which is why they were still able to operate, radiation and treat him with chemotherapy. But in the end, he died in 2020.

He was such a big, strong guy, but pancreatic cancer became fatal to him. As an outsider, as a brother-in-law, you can do absolutely nothing. You feel powerless. All I could do was raise money for cancer research.

At first I specifically wanted to support Professor Casper van Eijck, who works at Erasmus MC on the treatment of pancreatic cancer. But then I came across Tour for Life and thought: gosh, that's a really nice event to do.

Cycling 1,300 km doesn't scare you?

No, I've raised money before by making a physical effort. For example, I once ran a marathon in Uganda. And half marathons in the Netherlands. I then tried to raise some sponsor money from family and friends for pancreatic cancer research by Casper van Eijck.

What's nice about Tour for Life: it's a completely catered event. Of course, you have to make a huge physical effort. You spend an average of 7.5 hours on that saddle for 8 days. In total, you have to conquer 19,000 altimeters. But you get food along the way and you have a tent to sleep in, so that's all well taken care of. All I have to do is eat, sleep and bike. And raise money for cancer research.

With what kind of feeling did you sit on the saddle that first time?

Your brain very often says: give up, this is not comfortable, get off! Especially during those tough climbs. But you keep going because you know: you're healthy, so if you just keep pedaling you'll reach the finish line by yourself. There are people who can't do that anymore, like my brother-in-law. He would have loved this too. And that gives you the energy to keep going.

Plus, you're cycling Tour for Life with only people cycling for charity. So you'll hear stories every night from people who have lost a loved one. Or stories of people cycling with cancer.

You yourself are cycling this year with a friend who has overcome cancer for the time being, right?

True. I am going with a very good friend of mine, Pieter, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018. His treatment worked out well. Currently, the cancer is no longer visible and he is back in reasonable shape. But Pieter carries a certain gene, which means the cancer can come back just like that. This is the moment for him to cycle that tour together.

Do you get extra motivation from that?

Absolutely, the stories of others and the story of Pieter, that obviously gives you a lot of energy. You know, it can happen to anyone. That's why it's so important to raise a lot of money so that more research can be done.

I hope we can eventually turn cancer into a disease that you no longer have to die from. And that the quality of life with cancer improves.

What amount of money do you hope to raise?

The minimum amount I need to raise is 2,500 euros. Last time I eventually managed to raise 5,000 euros, so it would be great if I could do that again. But there are also people who raise 40,000 to 50,000 euros, unbelievable.

Have you raised a lot of sponsorship money yet?

The first donations are in and I am now at just over 900 euros. Bart & Partners, among others, has transferred a nice amount. But the goal is at least 2,500 euros, so I still have to work hard.

How can people sponsor you?

People can transfer an amount through my personal page on the Tour for Life website. What I want to emphasize: it's not about large amounts at all. Does someone want to give 5 euros? That's fine too, with that you are already contributing.

What's also good to mention: all the money people donate goes entirely to charity. I pay for the trip, the food, the tent and all those things myself. And I like to do that, because I also see it as a kind of active vacation. But people don't sponsor my vacation, they sponsor cancer research. Every euro goes there.

Case in point, Niels. Thank you for your story. Hope you still raise a lot of sponsorship money. And good luck with training.

Thank you guys, too. Every little bit of attention helps. The more people know how they can contribute, the more we can do together against this rotten disease.