A laryngectomy runner

As patients' association NSvG we gladly support the initiative of Leo Hartjes (50), who has taken up the challenge to participate in the New York marathon as a laryngectomy patient.
Firstly because Leo makes it clear that cancer does not have to be the end nowadays, neither the end of your life nor the end of your sporting achievements.
A number of laryngectomy patients swim, others are into bicycle racing, play in a tennis competition or go hiking. And Leo runs the marathon of New York.
And he does that with a clear goal in mind: collecting money for the KWF Fight against Cancer. One-third of the proceeds will go into research projects relating to throat cancer.

We would like to wish Leo much success during his preparations and we hope that he will finish the marathon successfully. And you? We kindly recommend you to participate in this sponsoring project!

A.M. de Bruine,
Chairman patients' association NSvG

Leo Hartjes has joined Run for Life: his goal, to collect as much money as possible for the fight against cancer, is also the goal of Run for Life. Annually, almost 100 runners participate in about 10 large Dutch running events, and through sponsoring (much!) money is collected. Ambassador of Run for Life is the fastest comedian in the Netherlands: Dolf Jansen. The first major event for Run for Life was the New York marathon of 2001: 38 runners participated and collected over **(NLG?) 100,000. Leo's initiative is heart-warming, also for Run for Life. Many Run for Life-runners participate out of personal involvement, but even we are impressed by Leo's enthusiasm and his running achievements despite his extra handicap and we would like to wish Leo a lot of success.
Read more about Run for Life, or participate as a runner via www.lopenvoorhetleven.nl (Dutch text only).

A laryngectomy, as Leo Hartjes underwent, is a drastic operation. The most important functions of the larynx, such as swallowing, talking and breathing will no longer be possible as such. A patient whose larynx has to be removed, usually because of cancer, has to learn to do this all over again. They will usually be able to speak again by means of a speech prosthesis, which is placed between the windpipe and the gullet and works as a valve: via the prosthesis, air is pushed into the pharynx, where the air is set into vibration, making is possible to produce sound. Food and drink should, of course, not go into the windpipe. Therefore the windpipe and the gullet are completely separated. Eating and drinking is usually not a problem after the operation.
After the operation, the way to breathe has changed completely. Instead of breathing through the nose or mouth, breathing takes place via a tracheostoma that is placed in the throat. Humidifying, filtering and warming the air that is inhaled is no longer possible, as a result of which the lungs are burdened even more, despite the use of stoma filters.
Leo Hartjes' achievements are therefore all the more unique and special. He also shows that a victory on cancer has also led to a victory on himself.
I am looking forward to 7 November 2004 with confidence, D-day for Leo Hartjes!

Dr. H.A.M. Marres,
UMC St. Radboud
3 augustus 2004

We would like to ask your attention for a very special campaign.

On 7 November 2004, Leo Hartjes will run the New York Marathon to aid the KWF Fight against Cancer. It is already quite an achievement to run the marathon, but in Leo's case it is an exceptional achievement. In November 2001, Leo was diagnosed with throat cancer. After several radiation treatments and a major operation, Leo no longer has a larynx, which means that he has to breathe through a stoma. Three years after he was diagnosed with throat cancer, he is now pushing his boundaries. And we are very proud that he will be running the marathon, while at the same time collecting money for the scientific cancer research.

These campaigns are an important source of income for the KWF Fight against Cancer and it guarantees continuation in scientific research. KWF Fight against Cancer is the largest private health fund that focuses on every aspect in the fight against cancer since it was established in 1949. Our mission is: diminish the risks of cancer, increase the chances of recovery and increase the quality of life for people with cancer and their loved ones. For every euro the KWF Fight against Cancer receives from the Dutch people and the business world, 85 euro cent is spent on the financing of cancer research, education and information of the general public and the patients. KWF Fight against Cancer also supports the various patients' associations.

We are confident that Leo will make it to the finish on 7 November in New York and that he will collect a handsome amount for his other goal: money for research. But for this, it is very important that he receives enough financial support. We hope that this letter of recommendation will urge you to help him in this, for which we already like to express our sincere gratitude.

We would like to wish Leo much success with his preparations to achieve his important goals on 7 November 2004.

Kind regards,

Geo Broekema,
Head of Fund-raising

Please note: To realise his goals even better, Leo has joined the Run for Life Foundation. More information can be found on www.lopenvoorhetleven.nl (Dutch text only).