Roparun 2024 team 366
Team 366, Trilux - Quadrant4, proudly crossed the finish line on Coolsigel in Rotterdam! Our th edition kicked off last Pentecost weekend. With te French route, we return to the tradition that began in 1991 for Stichting Roparun and in 2019 for our team.
Each edition is unique, and in this travelogue, we take you through the experiences of the past weekend during the non-stop relay of 535 kilometers and the record amount we were able to donate to Stichting Roparun thanks to our sponsors. This foundation is committed to supporting people with cancer, with the motto “Adding life to the days, when no more days can be added to life.”
On Friday, the bus and truck were quickly adorned with our sponsors' logos, the bikes and other luggage were loaded, and the teams were ready to depart. Quadrant4 departed from Oisterwijk, while Trilux set off from Amersfoort and Antwerp.
The complete team consisted of Team A (Quadrant4) and B (Trilux). Each team had 4 runners, 2 cyclists, a driver and navigator, a masseur, and a catering team. In total, we had 23 team members.
Our meeting point was Camping du Lac Vauban in Le Quesnoy. In no time, all the pop-up tents and party tents were set up in our base camp, and we headed to the town for a protein-rich meal, a drink, and some necessary team-building. What awaited us was a rainy night with many wet sleeping bags.
Team B (Trilux) started at 13:35 from the Circuit in Clastres, France, along with 186 other Roparun teams. Additionally, 41 teams departed from Twente Air Base for the route through the Netherlands. We were present with the entire team at this festive kickoff and were amazed by the variety of equipment and size of other Roparun teams—the organization is impressive, Chapeau! We posed for a photo with our blue friend, the Roparun bird, and then we were ready to go!
Throughout the entire run, you are surrounded by Roparun supervisors and teams encouraging each other, helping where needed, making the experience a celebration. This supportive atmosphere is especially comforting during the night shifts.
The team members back at the base camp also kept busy! After everyone left for their leg, this team moved the entire camp to the next stop. Tents were taken down and set up again, sleeping areas arranged, the massage table unfolded, and food prepared. Stefan's nasi was already a staple on the menu, and after this edition, Remi's pasta salad will surely be added. Enjoying a glass of Rudy's wine, we briefly relaxed from our efforts and then quickly got into bed to try and catch an hour of sleep before the physical labor towards Rotterdam began again.
In France, the route remains relatively calm, with the hilly landscape providing a beautiful backdrop for the first few kilometers. Once in Belgium and the Netherlands, the atmosphere becomes increasingly festive thanks to the organized checkpoints along the route.
Checkpoints are fun, festive activities organized by volunteers in towns the Roparun passes through. The atmosphere, the fun, the craziness, the extra bottle of water, a banana, or even a croquette sandwich! Imagine the mayor of Roosendaal giving high-fives to all participants, streets full of flags, a church runners have to pass through where they can light a candle, and big parties with brass bands or DJs. The energy from these experiences gives everyone the boost needed to reach the finish on Coolsingel.
During the run, you meet people with smiles, but also with tears, and see photos or memorial walls along the route telling stories of loss. These moments make us pause and reflect on how valuable the Roparun event is, the cause it supports, and the team effort that contributes to it.
The Roparun is an athletic challenge that tests your mental health in addition to physical exertion. Our team made it through this edition well, and this realization truly hits as you approach Rotterdam. Those last meters are a major event! The attention and many cheers along the route make us feel like we’re flying towards the finish line with the entire team of cyclists and runners, and our "own" Max (Verstappen) as the last runner, heading towards our warm families and other supporters.
We are proud to share that this year we raised a record amount of 25,058 euros. After the finish, we took a group photo with a banner displaying our sponsors and the record amount. The amount has even increased a bit since then. From this euphoria, we immediately mark our calendars for Roparun 2025. Will you sponsor us again then?
Special thanks to all our followers in the stay-at-home app, the donors, and of course these amazing sponsors:
Hoorstudio Strating | Basiq Dental B.V. | Promogifts.nl | aarts & co interieur en advies | Van Gruijthuijsen Catering B.V. | Aan de Stegge Roosendaal / ADSR | Heembouw | Van Draeckeburgh | Subsidies en Financieringen | Volvo - Vos Autobedrijven | Tocomfy | Ege Carpets | INOTEC Noodverlichting | Mymesh | JNV Audiovisuele Smaakmakers | DARWIN® - Smart Building OS® | MannaertsAppels Advocaten | QbiQ Wall Systems | MVL Media Groep B.V. | Klictet | Megens Installaties | Zonnestroom Nederland | Timo Reisiger fotografie | RetailTrends | XYTO Media | Dotcombusiness BV | Unidis B.V. Made4Logistics | H. de Bont Klimaattechniek B.V. | Bestpoint
