Team Riccardo!

In March 2020, when the pandemic started, my little brother Riccardo got diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a tumor which often targets adolescents and young adults. He had to endure through chemo, a very invasive surgery and radiotherapy, but luckily in January 2021, he successfully completed his treatment. The journey was long and difficult, and we are still dealing with the repercussions of the surgery, but he has inspired all of us by showing courage and determination to move forward and live life to the fullest.

Unfortunately, he is not the only child to go through this ordeal, and many are not so lucky to survive it. According to the Belgian Cancer Registry, every year 340 children (under the age of 15) and 180 adolescents (between the age of 15 and 19) are diagnosed with cancer. As they affect a relatively small portion of the population, paediatric cancers are technically considered as rare diseases, and as such they attract less funding for research. However, paediatric cancers can be particularly complex, hard to diagnose, and it goes without saying that they can have devastating effects on children affected by it, even after remission.

This is why my mother and I will be participating in Run To Kick on the 27th of September. We will run and walk along with many other families of children who have or are still affected by paediatric cancer, with the common goal of raising as much money as possible to fund research. Hopefully, one day we can defeat all childhood cancers and find more appropriate, innovative and less devastating treatments.

To achieve this goal, we need your help! So, how can you help us?

-> Join our ‘Team Riccardo.’ You run 2, 5 or 10km or walk 2 or 5km on Sunday 27th of September (the distance can be changed shortly before the event). Like this you commit to raise funds within your own network (200eur for adults and 100eur for children and adolescents).

-> Support our ‘Team Riccardo’ by making a donation. 100% of the money will go to paediatric oncologic research! Donations of 40€ or more are eligible for a tax deduction.

-> Share our project with as many people as possible, because together, we are stronger!

— Team Riccardo!