The Roparun: an adventure for life

Roparun
The Roparun is a relay race between Paris and Rotterdam. During the Pentecost weekend from Saturday afternoon until Monday afternoon the contestants follow a course of approximately 520 kilometres. Non-stop, 24/7, day and night. Until 2004 the contestants ran from Rotterdam to Paris (hence the name of the event) but this turned out to be inconvenient. Since then the runners finish at the Coolsingel in Rotterdam. There is a maximum capacity of 275 teams on the course and it was fully booked all the time. This is why since 2012 a second run is organised from Hamburg, which is similar to the Paris-Rotterdam route. Both courses are the same number of kilometres and they are finishing both in Rotterdam. 

Eighty kilometres walk
A Roparun team consists of a maximum of eight runners, who each run an average of 60 to 80 kilometres, which is well over the distance of a marathon. Each runner runs 20 to 25 kilometres per shift. Of course there are moments of rest in-between, to eat and (kind of) sleep in the truck. In order to keep speed, the runners will run approximately 2 kilometres a time. This is quite heavy. Two cyclists will escort the runners during the trail. Unlike the runners, the cyclists complete an average of 60 to 80 kilometres a time. They cycle at relatively slow speed, which makes it very hard. The navigator and the driver of the trail van, complete the team. These last ones fulfil an important role within the team. They have to improvise all the time, in order to find parking spaces where the runners can vary each other.

Add life to the days
The entire income of the Roparun goes to charity. The slogan is to add life to the days, where often days can no longer be added to life. As a team you have to make some efforts in order to raise money. Besides the physical challenge, the teams organise various activities like bag packing at supermarkets, washing cars, holding collections and looking for sponsors.

Impressed by the Roparun
De Haan Relocation is very proud of her employees who are contributing and take part of this good cause. Madeline van der Rhee (Manager Customer Service at De Haan) will participate for the first time as a runner. She is a member of Team 20: “Save a human”. Madeline tells: “Last year I was invited by Arend Reijm and his wife to join them at a sponsor dinner of Team 20 at a local community college. De Haan was supporting several teams at the time. Also a few of my colleagues already participated in the Roparun as a driver. During this dinner I was impressed by the good cause of the Roparun. I spontaneously offered my business card to the team captain and asked him to contact me in case they needed an extra runner. Unfortunately this wasn’t necessary, but they did need a driver for the course van. I had little experience in driving across border and was very excited, but it all turned out great. It was an experience I will never forget.”

This year Madeline was asked to contribute as a runner, a challenge she accepted with the highest pleasure. “The moment we entered Rotterdam last year, was unbelievable. The trail first goes by the Daniel den Hoed clinic (a hospital where people are treated for cancer) where a lot of people where supporting us. It really does something to you, when you see this. Overall, this is a very emotional experience. You worked so hard for days together with your team. The last piece of the trial we always walk (yes, the running job is quite done at that time) together with the whole team. It feels so good to see all those enthusiastic people standing along the road, supporting and cheering you on for the good cause we all support.” 

Preparations
“Currently, I’m still preparing for the race. Practicing interval runs, which are short, intense efforts followed by equal or slightly longer recovery time. It is very important to be able to speed up at a short distance. All the runners of Team 20 also ran the Rotterdam Marathon. Recently we trained together, we ran a piece of the Hamburg route and finished at De Haan Relocation.” We asked Madeline if she is tensed now the run is coming closer. She answered: “I feel a healthy excitement for the Roparun. Of course I’m not used to run in the dark and especially on the not fully paved roads of France and Belgium, but I’m full of confidence. You are running with a team, we help each other. It really is an unique experience.”

Hard moments
During hard moments in the run, Madeline often thinks about her colleague Jan. Jan died of cancer last year. Madeline had a special bond with him. “In the last stadium of his disease we organised a special afternoon at De Haan Relocation for Jan. This was so special and beautiful, that we could arrange this for him. It made me realise how important these kinds of gestures are for someone who is this sick. When I think of Jan, I know why I participate in the Roparun and why it is so important to raise money for this cause.” 

De Haan represented
Madeline is not the only one sharing here piece at the Roparun. Also colleagues Martijn, Henk and Frank participate and take part of the cause as drivers. Martijn is a driver for team Boskalis: “ I think it is very important to raise money for people who are suffering from cancer. Beside that, the social aspect is great. It is an unbelievable to experience the Roparun together with a team. We have so much fun together and we share a lot of special moments together.”

Sponsoring
During the last part of the trail, at the Coolsingel, the flags with all the names of the sponsors are showed. “Without these sponsors, no income and no Roparun,” Madeline explains. De Haan Relocation sponsors two teams with a truck and one team with a trail van. Arend Reijm tells: “We believe that our company has to fulfil a positive role within society. Unfortunately, the society has to deal with this horrible disease, which effects so many people. If we can contribute in such a good cause, making life of people suffering from this disease a bit easier, we are happy to do so. It is very special to see that our employees are involved in the participation of this good cause. Last year, I was present at the finish of the Roparun at the Coolsingel. Unnecessary to tell I was extremely proud of my colleagues.”

The 25^th edition of the Roparun is taking place between the 14^th and the 16^th of May 2016.

Madeline, Henk, Frank and Martijn: on behalf of all of your colleagues at De Haan Relocation we wish you all the support and success. We are extremely proud of you.

Go for it!