During the next 4 days thousands of Flemings will take part in the cancer charity Kom op tegen Kanker’s (Stand up to cancer) 1,000km bicycle ride fund raiser. Each day they will cycle 250km starting and finishing in Mechelen (Antwerp Province). This year’s bicycle ride is the 14th of its kind to have been organised by Kom op tegen Kanker.
The participants will ride a different route starting and finishing in Mechelen on each of the 4 days. In the early afternoon those that wish to can take a break in a different “Lunchtime city”.
On Thursday, the opening ceremony of this year’s '1,000km ride got underway at 6.30am on Mechelen’s central market square Grote Markt. The closing ceremony will be held on Sunday evening also on the Grote Markt. Then we will know how much money has been raised.
This year’s “Lunchtime Cities” are Buggenhout (East Flanders) Essen (Antwerp Province), Peer (Limburg Province) and Bruges (West Flanders). Each of these plans to give the cyclists a warm welcome and entertainment is planned for spectators and supporters.
There is also an international element to this year's fundraiser with a group of cyclists riding the 1,000km from the French city of Orléans to Mechelen. They set off on Thursday morning and are due to arrive on Mechelen’s Grote Markt on Sunday.
Cancer research
The proceeds from the event will contribute to financing patient-oriented cancer research. This including studies into rare forms of cancer and innovative radiation methods that can improve patients' quality of life.
The organisers says that research of this nature is essential and is often does not receive commercial funding. Each year, around 46,000 people are diagnosed with cancer.