Because her sister was cured of cancer, Myrda Schartman is now raising money for the Prinses Máxima Centre in Utrecht. As a quid pro quo, the student in Pedagogical Sciences and friends from the Phocas rowing club are taking part in a 100-kilometre rowing race in June.

In 2018, Myrda Schartman’s 13-year-old sister became seriously ill with what was soon diagnosed as a brain tumour. She was quickly admitted to the Prinses Maximá Centre for paediatric oncology in Utrecht, where she underwent five operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Because the Prinses Máxima Centre is only for children, each room has an adjoining second room, where Myrda’s parents could spend the night. ‘At night I was able to stay in the Ronald McDonald Home next to the hospital,’ said the 21-year-old Myrda on the telephone.

Fortunately, the intense series of treatments proved effective. Myrda’s sister is now doing better and is completely cancer-free. ‘That’s why I think this is a good time to do something in return to help the Prinses Máxima Centre,’ Myrda said. ‘They did amazing work for my sister. Paediatric oncologists in the Prinses Máxima Centre are currently able to cure three out of four children with cancer. But they want to cure four out of four.’

Quid pro quo

Myrda wants to contribute to that goal via a crowdfunding activity. Her targeted goal is 3,333 euro, but that can be adjusted upwards. ‘It might even be 4,444 euro as a symbolic amount because the hospital wants to cure four out of four children.’

Together with her friends Michiel, Sjoerd, Eva, Daan and Lucas from the Phocas rowing club, Myrda has already come up with an idea. On 2 June, they plan to take part in the Ringvaart Regatta, a rowing race with its start and finish in Leiden. ‘We’ve wanted to do this for quite some time, but it’s great that we can now link it to a good cause.’

‘The Ringvaart is a marathon for rowers’

Each year, about 800 Dutch and foreign rowers take part in the race which is 100 kilometres long. ‘What a marathon is to runners, the Ringvaart is to rowers,’ Myrda said. ‘You’re never 100 percent prepared, but we’re going to do our best. We think it will take us about 12 hours.’

Relay race

Corona regulations had prevented rowers from being in a boat together; instead, they had to train individually, about four to five times a week. ‘I do a lot of spinning, strength training and stamina training.’

Because of the corona regulations, it’s still not certain whether or not the Ringvaart can be held this summer. The Phocas rowers have already thought about alternatives like a relay race in which the four rowers individually row 100 kilometres together. ‘But the donations are never in vain,’ Myrda said. ‘They’ll always benefit the Prinses Máxima Centre.’

More information about this activity can be found at www.maximaalinactie.nl/actie/myrda-schartman