Last November, friends of the track-and field club asked me

if I would take photos for a calendar they could use for a big fundraiser.

Tonight (the 9^th of Mai) they will start running from Paris to Rotterdam……..yes 540 km, 329 miles

and they will arrive at the Coolsingel (centre of Rotterdam) sometime during Monday the 12^th of Mai.

They are a team of 8 runners (taking turns running one at a time for 10km each time, day and night) and 4 helpers by bike.

http://www.teamextra.nl/

The most difficult part will be to get some rest and sleep during those days.

They have a big truck with them in which they can sleep and the most important:

there will be a private cook to prepare special meals.  There will be a 'mental' coach for the difficult hours.

The Roparun is the longest non-stop relay race in the world: it's not only a unique running event but also has a unique goal:

"Aiming to add life to the days that remain, when no more days can be added to life"

It is a large fundraiser for people with cancer, to give those families short vacations in which they try to have some happy times together.

In temperatures of 5C (41F) and in just 2 hours without rain I was able to shoot these pictures.

We tried to do all seasons….'summer' was the most hard and fun to do.

They sold the 500 calendars in no time…

With this collage I like to wish them good luck.  I know what kind of hard work they have put in.

These are well-trained athletes able to run the marathon within the 4 hours.

http://www.roparun.nl/regulierewebsite/