Today, cancer is a disease still hard to cure and still at the top of the list of the worldwide causes of death. Worth thinking about in our modern society where almost nothing can stop us.

Abby, Julian and myself support the Livestrong foundation and the Dutch Koninging Wilhelmina Fonds KWF, a Dutch organisation funding cancer research. And even though our support may not be more than a drop of water in the ocean, we strongly feel every bit counts.

At the age of 16 I was still living in the Southwest province of Zeeland, in a small village called Noordgouwe. I remember fiddling about to make my moped run just that bit faster, smoother. Naturally, my shopping consisted of mainly parts for the moped in both Noordgouwe and a small neigbouring town called Kerkwerve. Kerkwerve had a bikeshop owned by a grumpy looking older guy, but if you could see thru that, you’d find he was a very knowledgeable craftsman who would tell you what you needed to know when striking the right nerve.

I remember entering the shop 1 day and seeing this racing bike. It was a hobby project of his son and had been spraypainted in a bright pink, grey and black. It was love at first sight, I had to have it!

Unfortunately my Mom never really had the means to buy these things, but she surprised me when I came home from school one day and found the bike waiting for me, I couldn’t be happier!

This story happened over 20 years ago, the bike is still there but she’s looking a mess. Over the last few years I have considered selling it off at next to nothing, but nodoby ever showed up despite promises. Then I considered scrapping the frame, but soon found I couldn’t, the bike still holds emotional value for me.

Then yesterday, I suddenly realised what I should do with the bike, namely restore her to her former glory, but as a stylish black and yellow Livestrong bike. Once done we’ll sell her off and donate the profits to KWF. Once the idea hit me, I knew this is the only proper way to say goodbye to this bike which had brought me many a pleasant time cycling.

This will most probably be a project that may take a year or so, or just months, depending on factors such as time, motivation and interest (for which I’ve an awfully short span). However, I will be posting on milestones along with photos. If you have any good ideas towards the design, have components lying around you’d like to contribute with, anything to promote and/or endorse this project, please feel free to share your contributions, in whatever form.

Cancer is a tough disease, and only thru Unity can we fight this battle and win. Livestrong!

Tags: bicycle, cancer, KWF, Livestrong, restoration