Dutch students pedal through five countries to spread awareness of heart disease

 PALERMO, Sicily - A group of eight students from Rotterdam, known as ‘Heart to Handle,’ has completed a 2,750 kilometre bicycle journey to Palermo to fund research and spread awareness on heart diseases. Their trip started on July 8, in the southern part of the Netherlands, where the students began to ride their bicycles and crossed Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Italy, before reaching their final destination in Palermo, Sicily, on Thursday.

 Along the journey, the group of motivated students visited cities like Milan, Pisa, Rome, and Naples, thereby establishing connections with local communities - highlighting the urgency of understanding the causes of sudden heart issues.

 The finale unfolded at the prestigious Villa Niscemi in Palermo, where the cyclists were welcomed by multiple special guests. Notable attendees included the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Sicily, Emanuele Pirazzoli and his wife, Gillian Van Den Berg, along with Sabrina Figuccia, Deputy Mayor for Sports and Tourism of the Municipality of Palermo. The presence of the special guests highlighted the significance of the cyclists' achievements, as they congratulated the group of students on their success in raising funds for heart research as well as spreading awareness about cardiac health.

 Jan Krol, one of the cyclists, expressed his gratitude for the support received along the way - thanking the sponsors, the local community, and the authorities. Krol acknowledged the collective effort that motivated them not to give up and emphasised how every contribution, be it financial or motivational, played a crucial role in their mission.

 Heart to Handle's bicycle tour was not only a physical exercise for the students; it was evidence of the power that unity can achieve, along with determination, to reach the shared goal of combating heart diseases.

 The journey gained publicity along the way, giving people motivation to start numerous conversations online, garner other support, and it proved that a small group of motivated individuals can make a difference in the fight against life-threatening conditions.

  nk