During the 20 km of Brussels, the VUB community raised €1,095 for the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund for Immunotherapy. VUB Sport linked participation in the race to a fundraising campaign in support of the fund, which finances research into innovative cancer treatments.
The fund is named after the late honorary rector Paul De Knop, who came into contact with the research of Professor Bart Neyns and his team at VUB and UZ Brussel while undergoing treatment for melanoma. Their work focuses on immunotherapy, a form of treatment that harnesses the body’s own immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
This approach has transformed the treatment of skin cancer in recent years. Researchers are now working to achieve similar breakthroughs for patients with brain cancer. The VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund for Immunotherapy supports this research and helps accelerate the development and availability of innovative treatments.
Yati and Sam, the children of Paul De Knop, also took part in the event. Both are alumni of VUB’s programme in Physical Education and Movement Sciences.
In total, 338 members of the VUB community took part. Of the 359 registered runners, 167 represented UZ Brussel, 143 represented VUB, 15 came from Odisee and KU Leuven, and 13 from Erasmushogeschool Brussel.
Participants also delivered strong sporting performances. Benjamin Van Mulders of UZ Brussel was the fastest runner in the VUB group, completing the race in 1:15:19. Charles Snyers of VUB followed just four seconds later, finishing in 1:15:23.
Would you like to help accelerate cancer research?
You can support brain cancer research with a donation to the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund for Immunotherapy. Every contribution, large or small, helps the research team move one step closer to developing better treatments for patients with brain tumours.