“We’ll do this again next year.” It was the first thing that Theo (70) and Margreet (53) Bootsma said to each other when they crossed the finish line in Alpe d’Huez in 2019 after a climb of more than 6 hours. Due to corona, they had to wait two years longer, but now they can finally go back up the mountain for the Alpe d’HuZes. The Alkmaar couple is eager: “We are motivated to the bone.”
Team Bikkel is written on their lilac shirt. It was their late sister-in-law Ellen’s favorite color. “She died of cancer in 1997 and she was a tough guy,” says Theo. “It’s even on her tombstone.” His wife Margreet: “Ellen had such a big heart. She worked in a care home in Alkmaar and was always there for everyone. Not only for the residents, but also for her colleagues and her family. That is why we knew in 2019 when we name of a deceased friend participated in Alpe d’HuZes for the first time, immediately that we would do it again and then in the name of Ellen.”
In the recreation area Geestmerambacht, the couple is walking briskly. They have enough kilometers in their legs and they have mainly spent a lot of training hours in the gym. “In 2019 we made it to the finish, despite having an asthma attack along the way,” says Margreet. But through a special diet, the asthma is under control and they are confident in it.
“If it goes well, we now want to go up twice”, Theo says with a laugh. “Of course this is a joke,” says Margreet as she takes a knoll in the recreation area. “The most important thing is your mental strength. We experienced that last time. All those people together with their emotions. It seemed as if we were being carried upstairs. We’re going for it.”
Eva Veerman
With promotions and benefit evenings they collected more than 5,000 euros for Alpe d’HuZes. During one of the actions they met the parents of the murdered Volendam Eva Veerman. That is why Margreet now also carries a photo of Eva with her. “She was very passionate about bodybuilding as a sport and wanted to reach the top in this. Through us she reached the top of Alp d’HuZes.”
Theo and Margreet are on their way to the top – NH Nieuws
NH is there live
On Thursday 2 June, Alpe d’HuZes will be held for the fifteenth time. Five thousand participants will climb the Alpe d’Huez up to six times that day, cycling, running or walking. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for cancer research. In 2019, the event raised a record amount of almost 12 million euros. NH Nieuws closely follows the participants in Noord-Holland and this year, together with the other regional broadcasters, will report live from the Alpe d’Huez.
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