Amstelvener Michaël Harlaar (59) will start this weekend with an almost 120 kilometer long walk along the coast, from Hoek van Holland to Den Helder. He does this with a noble goal: to raise as much money as possible for the Amstelveen food bank.
Charity was instilled in Michael at an early age. “I grew up in the Amsterdam Pijp”, he says. “My parents have always done a lot of social work. In that family I was brought up with the message ‘if it goes well for you, you will also do something for someone else’. Wealth does not come by itself. Although wealth is not only money, that is much more than that.”
Especially now because of the high energy prices more and more people are knocking on the door of the food bank, Michael didn’t have to think twice about which charity he wanted to support. “The volunteers would like to serve more people. And if necessary, they can buy things if necessary. It is really difficult for them at the moment,” says Michaël.
Sporty
For those who know Michaël, it is no surprise that he wants to sponsor the food bank with a sporting challenge. The Amstelvener has been running marathons for seven years and previously participated in the Dam tot Damloop and the Amstel Gold Race for touring cyclists.
A walk on the beach is new to him, he says. Because the beach between Hoek van Holland and Den Helder does not run continuously, it has to go around in some places. “But I have a handy booklet. Then I can take routes within,” he says. “I have to bypass ports anyway. And I also have to go around the lock at IJmuiden.”
In addition, he expects to make some extra meters at IJmuiden, he writes in a blog on his website donation page for the Food Bank Amstelveen. Because the water taxi is not running, it has to pass through the Tata Steel site on the east side, making its journey about three miles longer.
“I hope I have some nice weather on the way”
Walking along the Dutch coast is best known for the Strandzesdaagse. The big difference is that that event is always held in the summer, and Michael runs his tour in the fall.
“I hope I have some nice weather on the way”, says Michael with a laugh. “Even if I’m going to walk anyway. It doesn’t have to be sunny weather for me. As long as it’s dry, that you don’t get a whole splash of rain on your tent.”
Whatever the weather, Michaël expects that his personal six-day beach trip will be a tough journey, in which he hopes to cover about twenty kilometers a day, just like participants in the Beach six-days.
There is no lack of preparation: he regularly walks long distances through the Amsterdamse Bos with his dog. He trains for his upcoming beach walk without his pet. “She’s twelve now. I think she’ll make it, but I don’t want to do it to her. I think ten to twelve kilometers is a bit too much for her.”
sponsors
Michaël is sponsored by friends and acquaintances. His target amount is five hundred euros, but secretly he hopes for more. “I was like: I’ll keep the amount low, let’s see what it becomes. If it becomes more, I’d love to. Ten thousand euros would be great.”
With his campaign, he hopes to draw more attention not only to poverty, but also to the food bank itself. And in addition to making progress, he also contributes financially: he does not need the energy allowance he receives these months and therefore transfers it to the food bank. Because ‘every euro counts’, he says with a laugh: “If every follower of mine deposits a euro, then we are already there. It’s just that simple.”
Food bank happy
Board member of the Amstelveen food bank Marja Ernste is delighted with Michaël’s initiative. She says that financial contributions have always been important to the food bank, but that they can no longer do without it. “Yes, great!” Marja responds to the action. “We also immediately put it on our Facebook page. For what, hear something.”