Ten kilometers she promised and ten kilometers she delivered. Princess Margriet, 73, was the second oldest on the ice at FlevOnice, but she patiently and dilligently made her rounds around the 400 meters long track. Each round adding to her total, and each time receiving a stamp on her scorecard as proof of her achievement in the 'Holland 100'.
Each stamp translated into money for the good cause this whole event was organised for: to raise money for fundamental research into the nature and treatment of lymphoma and to raise awareness of this cancer. Princess Margriet's second son Prince Bernhard, a father of three, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013. After his recovery he co-founded Lymph&Co, which seeks to financially support cancer research. The 'Holland 100', which combines 10 kilometers of skating with 90 kilometers of cycling, is one way to raise money.
Princess Margriet was not the only member of the extended Royal Family to lend her support. Her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven gave moral support from the sidelines, taking pictures of his wife, children and grandchildren. Eldest son Prince Maurits with Princess Marilène and their two youngest children skated more than four kilometers, with Princess Aimée and her daughters cheering them on.
Prince Bernhard's youngest brother Prince Floris was been the most active and succesful fundraiser. With some friends he has already reached 82 percent of the set goal of 100,000 euros. “And we will reach our goal”, Floris said after completing a tough ten kilometers earlier, before getting on his bicycle for the second part of this typical Dutch duathlon.
Prince Bernhard had wanted to compete in both sports, but a knee injury kept him on the sidelines of the skating event in which his wife Princess Annette skated. Both did embark on the cycling adventure. “I will see how far I will get”, the Prince, already expressing satisfaction with the more than 360,000 euros raised for Lymph&Co.
© Royalblog Hans Jacobs
See also: Princess Margriet and her sons to skate 10 km to raise money for lymphoma research
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