Swim along for research on spinal cord injury

The Rapenburg Race is an annual swimming competition that raises money for a good cause: improving the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries. Every year hundreds of people swim 800 metres through the most beautiful canal in the city. The finish will be in the Van der Werfpark, where there will be live music, food and drink and a lot of fun all day long. In short: it promises to be a great day again!

Swim along!

The Rapenburg Race is a student initiative and is supported by all student associations in Leiden. Starting points are to draw attention to spinal cord injury research and to build a bridge between the city of Leiden and all its inhabitants. The reason for the initiative is the impressive story of Leiden student Maarten Jorissen. In the summer of 2016, he suffered a spinal cord injury due to an accident. After several operations and long rehabilitation, he started his master's degree in corporate law at Leiden University and is now a lawyer. The organization looks with respect at what he has achieved and continued to look positively at life despite all setbacks. We grant that perspective to all people with spinal cord injury.

In the Netherlands, between 12,000 and 15,000 people live with a spinal cord injury. Of these, 12% are under the age of 30. Due to an accident, illness or just plain dumb luck, they lost control of their bodies instantly. It is a nightmare that becomes reality when nerve failure suddenly changes life forever and obvious things like walking or going to the bathroom are suddenly no longer possible. People with paraplegia are also at much higher risk for kidney failure, bowel problems, lung problems and vascular problems. Learn more at Dwarslaesie.nl.

Donate!

Aftermovie Rapenburg Race Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022:

Last year was the fourth edition of the Rapenburg Race and this was a great success. It was a great day! Will you be there next year as well?

More information: Rapenburg Race Committee, chairman Jim van Tongeren 0610162119 or info@rapenburgrace.nl