Two years ago Go2Sport and Think Pink joined forces in order to get recovering cancer patients back moving. It became a cooperation with the UZA and AZ Monica where patients were selected with whom that ultimate milestone would be conquered: a finish at the Generali Zwintriatlon at Knokke. This Saturday it was revealed at S&R De Meerminnen at Beveren that the successtory would be repeated. Tria-GO! gets a follow-up, Tria+, with the same symbolic finish: Knokke.
Unlike the first project, the lead is this time in hand of AZ Nikolaas. "I'd be kicking in an open door if I were to say that cancer has a destabilizing effect on every aspect of the life. It is of the utmost importance to get the social life, the hobbies and the sportive activities as soon as possible back on track after treatment," opens Koen Michiels, CEO at AZ Nikolaas. His vision on the matter is confirmed by Carla and Conny, both ex-patients. "The project offers an unique opportunity thanks to its support and guidance," they explain. "Even though we had a sporty background on the eve of the diagnosis, it is with pain in the heart that we had to admit that everything had to be rebuild from the ground on. Tria+ offers three big advantages: firstly there is the privilege to train with like-bodied, people who are on the same wavelength; then there is the opportunity to serve as a role model, if we succeed in completing a triathlon you'd have to bring a very strong argument to not be able to sport; lastly the finish will bring us closure and the whole cancer chapter can be left behind."
"Sitting is the new smoking"
Ines Deleu, Oncologist at AZ Nikolaas emphasizes the importance of exercise after treatment. "It pains me to see that the importance of regular exercise is often overlooked after treatment," Ines tells us. "Five times a week a 30 minute exercise will have a positive effect on the quality of life and the confidence in the body. Besides there will be a decrease in the risk of relapse and a decrease in the familiar feeling of fatigue. 'Sitting is the new smoking' does not only work for ex-patients."
Material support has been given in all forms and sorts. One of the biggest financial and material supporters is Think Pink. Think Pink puts Ridley Fenix bikes at the disposition of the athletes (unfortunately not as bright orange as ours), as well as Speedo wetsuits. Registration fees for the Zwintriatlon and all preparatory events are also covered by the organisation.
The athletes will be coached by Rudi Frankinouille from Go2Sport. "The main goal is to allow the athletes to take the plunge to a regular sport club after the project. Go2Sport can be a buffer is this step would seem to big, but this is only a temporary solution," explains Rudi. The Go2Sport team is supervised by Rudi, Mieke Smet, Lore Van Mieghem, Johan Van Mullem and Maaike Polspoel.
At 3athlon.be we are proud to say that some of our partners decided to support the project. As mentioned, Ridley will provide bikes; Polar equips the athletes with the needed headunits; and Bioracer will dress them in haute-couture.