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On 12 June, Fietsmaatjes Alphen aan den Rijn took on a unique challenge. On this day, a pair from Fietsmaatjes participated in the Tour du ALS on Mont Ventoux in France using a vanRaam duo bike.
The Tour du ALS is an event where the iconic Mont Ventoux is climbed to raise as much money as possible for scientific research into the cause and treatment of ALS. Fietsmaatjes joined this initiative because one of the founders of the foundation, Wilke Ebeling, has ALS himself. “Wilke has meant a great deal to our organisation,” says Diana Boerefijn of Fietsmaatjes Alphen aan den Rijn. “That’s why we want to do something for him now that he has ALS. We are very grateful that vanRaam, the manufacturer of our duo bikes, provided a bike suitable for mountainous terrain for this purpose.”
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a merciless disease. After the first symptoms, people with this illness typically live only 3 to 5 more years. Thanks to recent technological developments, there is hope that ALS will become a treatable disease in the future. The Tour du ALS is organised to raise money for the fight against ALS and related diseases PSMA and PLS. This funding enables research and can improve the quality of life for patients.
“For Wilke, these developments will probably come too late,” says Diana Boerefijn, who, together with George Schrama, the technical expert at Fietsmaatjes, climbed Mont Ventoux on the duo bike on 12 June. “But Wilke himself really wanted to do something for future ALS patients, which is why he participated in the Tour du ALS with many cycling friends, on an adapted bike. Fietsmaatjes joined his ‘Team Wilke’.”
Fietsmaatjes Alphen aan den Rijn has a total of 23 vanRaam duo bikes in use throughout the municipality of Alphen. Diana: “Our original plan was to climb Mont Ventoux with one of our own duo bikes. But vanRaam advised against this.”
Jorne van der Zalm, account manager at vanRaam, explains: “In mountainous terrain, just like with a regular bike, you need different gears. Cycling in the mountains also puts a lot of strain on the motor and batteries of a duo bike. For this action by Fietsmaatjes Alphen aan den Rijn, we were happy to lend a duo bike with a double motor, extra battery packs, mountain gearing, anti-tip wheels, and an adapted electric programme that is better suited for the mountains. This made it possible for George and Diana to reach the top of Mont Ventoux.” vanRaam provided the bike free of charge for this event and also offered technical support on 12 June. “We are 100% behind the goal of the Tour du ALS and were happy to contribute in this way,” says account manager Jorne.
Whether the summit of the 1,909-metre-high mountain could be reached with a duo bike was still uncertain. Diana noticed at the foot of the mountain that none of the other 834 participants had chosen this means of transport. “At the bottom, people were wondering if we were really going to cycle up with that: how would that work?”
In addition to lending the duo bike, a vanRaam mechanic also accompanied them. “He cycled up the mountain with us and indicated when we needed to let the electric motor cool down,” Diana explains.
In the end, the duo reached the summit in about four hours. “It was less tough than I expected,” says Diana, who had also cycled the Alpe d'HuZes a week earlier. Shortly after Diana and George reached the top, Wilke also succeeded. “The fact that he managed it and could really throw himself into this project means a great deal to him.”
In total, Team Wilke raised more than €75,000 for ALS research, of which nearly €3,000 was raised by Diana and George. The Tour du ALS as a whole raised over €2.1 million. “Scientists present at the Tour du ALS said that with this money, they can take further steps in researching the disease,” says Diana. “And that’s what we did it for. And for Wilke, of course!”
3FM Serious Request is an annual charity initiative by a major Dutch radio station, raising funds for important causes. On December 18, 2024, the Van Raam team cycled over 80 kilometers with colleagues, traveling from Varsseveld to the Glass House in Zwolle. With this effort, we aimed to raise as much money as possible for the Metakids Foundation during Serious Request.
Van Raam has once again donated a decent amount of money to the Kanjers voor Kanjers foundation. This beautiful donation consists of the voluntary contribution Van Raam charges for guided tours through the Van Raam factory.
Van Raam donated a cheque to the Kanjers voor Kanjers Foundation. The record amount of money consisted of gifts that during the opening of the new Van Raam bicycle factory have been donated to the Foundation Kanjers voor Kanjers.
Van Raam is Ambassador van Bergh in het Zadel for the Cancerfoundation. The main goal of the Bergh in het Zadel Foundation is to raise money for the battle against cancer. In the special anniversary edition of the Ambassador Magazine Ronald Ruesink, commercial director of Van Raam, tells more about Van Raam in an interview.
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