On 1 September 2023, it will be time: cycling friends Roland and Jelle will then get on their bikes to start their journey to Santiago de Compostela. This is a long-held wish. They will do it for reflection, for fun and to support a good cause, says Roland, who in his daily life works as a buyer at Hortilife.
The charity is Pan de Vida. Pan de Vida, which means 'Bread of life', aims to give underprivileged children in Peru a hopeful future and provide them with healthy food, school supplies, scholarships and other materials that promote their well-being.
"On a beautiful Pentecost day.... in 2007... I visited some friends' house in Friesland. It was raining cats and dogs. At the end of the morning we thought about what we could do with this rainy weather. Someone mentioned something about cycling in Bolsward. It turned out to be the Cyclelfstedentocht. A trip of 235 kilometres. Great weather for it. It was jokingly suggested that we join in next year too. Sure... we will. Turns out in January, tickets have actually been arranged.... So that means training. It giet oan (It's happening).
After one trip, we decide to cycle the Elfstedentocht every year. Every year during this tour, we pass through the village of Sint Jacobiparochie. Turns out the local church is the starting point of the Netherlands' northernmost route to Santiago de Compostela. And again there is some shouting.... Shall we cycle to Santiago de Compostela sometime...? Sure we will. Now it's almost time, over 2,500 kilometres to go. As well-trained as we were for the Elfstedentocht.... It giet oan!"
In action for a trial garden
One of the pillars of Pan de Vida is Self-sufficient Peru. In that context, the Foundations for Farming follow-up training took place in June. Here, more than 20 project leaders from Pan de Vida were trained to practice small-scale farming in a sustainable way. The aim is to start several trial gardens in the short term. In the longer term, the intention is for the proceeds of such a garden to benefit the accompanying children's restaurant. The average amount needed to realise such a trial garden is about €5,000.
For buyer in glasshouse horticulture Roland from Deventer and driving school owner Jelle from Mantgum, the calculation was then quickly made: a trip of more than 2,500 km with 2 people at €1 sponsorship per cycled km = 1 trial garden. So that's the charity for which the cycling friends are pedalling.
For more information:
Roland Bakker 
Hortilife
rbakker@hortilife.com