VUB keeps running in support of the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund
On Sunday, May 31, the “20 km of the VUB” took place. This run was organized by the five ambassadors of the VUB Loopt campaign, together with three employees of UZ Brussel, as a substitute for their planned participation in the 20 km through Brussels. The route ran from the VUB campus in Etterbeek to the entrance of UZ Brussel in Jette. Upon arrival, the participants presented a cheque of €11,811 to Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns in support of research into immunotherapy in the fight against cancer.
Among the participants were Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns himself and VUB’s General Administrator Nic Van Craen. The route took them from Etterbeek, through the city, passing some of the well-known landmarks of the 20 km of Brussels—such as the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Wetstraat—before arriving at the University Hospital.
The run was organized as part of VUB Loopt, an initiative aimed at getting as many professors, staff, and students of the Brussels university running as possible, helping them build better fitness. But VUB Loopt also supports the health of others: participants could be sponsored for their involvement in the famous 20 km of Brussels.
All actions and donations over the past months raised a total of €11,811. This amount has now been fully donated to the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund for immunotherapy, established by the former VUB rector to finance Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns’ research into so-called immunotherapy as a cancer treatment.
VUB Loopt… continues
“It’s of course disappointing that the actual 20 km through Brussels was postponed, as it should have been the highlight of this sporting charity event,” says Dirk Van de Wiele, head of the Department of Exercise and Sport at VUB and driving force behind VUB Loopt. “But there is a positive side: it gives us a good excuse to extend VUB Loopt: VUB Loopt… continues. The alternative 20 km through Brussels was a great kickoff. Of course, on Sunday we made sure everything ran completely safely for our participants. The runners stopped at crossings when necessary and otherwise followed all traffic rules. And naturally, government guidelines regarding the coronavirus were carefully observed: runners kept at least five meters distance from each other.”
About donations to the Paul De Knop Fund
The Paul De Knop Fund aims to promote Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns’ research into immunotherapy as a cancer treatment. Donations collected will be used to support clinical studies.
Those who wish to support the research of Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns and his team can do so through a donation to the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund:
Account number: BE 51 0013 6779 3562
Reference: GIFT FO2 Paul De Knop
More information: www.vubfoundation.be/paul-de-knop-fonds