Rajd Po Zdrowie 2024. Hematologist: This is one of the most important days in the calendar for me

– We want to build awareness through positive messages and present the patient as a socially active, physically fit person who enjoys life. A hematooncological patient is not an excluded person today. Thanks to very good therapies, many of which we have access to today, patients are able to return to normal life, take on challenges, not only cycling, but also the most important ones: the fight for life and health – says Łukasz Rokicki, president of the Wiesława Adamiec Carita Foundation.

The idea of ​​the Rally was born a few years ago, when Łukasz Rokicki met Grzegorz Rakowiecki, also a patient with myeloma, who was waiting for treatment in a cycling outfit, at one of the haematology departments in Poznań. – You should always try to live, not just survive. When I got myeloma at the age of 60, many people predicted the end of my active life. However, I found wonderful doctors, the myeloma was quickly controlled, I decided to get back to being active and a year later I was riding a bike again. I came up with the idea of ​​cycling to administer my medication once a year. The idea of ​​the Rally for Health, the “Ride Over Myeloma” rally, was born in the hospital corridor – says Grzegorz Rakowiecki, who is once again the commander of the Rally for Health.

The first Rally was organized in 2019 in Grudziądz, the next edition took place in 2022 in Poznań. Since then, it has been the largest celebration of myeloma patients and all those who support them.

Increasingly effective treatment for myeloma and other hematooncological diseases

The possibility of participating in the Rally by hemato-oncology patients shows how effective and efficient treatment is today: more and more often, despite their disease, they lead normal, active family, social and professional lives, breaking down barriers.

– Although we are not yet talking about curing myeloma, the treatment options are getting better and better, thanks to which the disease often remains under control for many years. Many people even return to their pre-disease state. This does not always happen and not in everyone, but it is increasingly possible. We are glad that more and more new therapeutic options are also available in Poland – emphasizes Prof. Dominik Dytfeld, president of the Polish Myeloma Consortium, who has taken part in every Rally from the beginning, and this year, together with Łukasz Rokicki, he is once again marking the routes for the rides.

A rally that gives hope

This year’s Rally will take place on September 7 at Malta in Poznań and will be a great opportunity to spend time actively, gain knowledge, have diagnostic tests performed, and take advantage of medical consultations. As every year, the event will be attended by myeloma patients, their loved ones, doctors, Foundation partners and all those who support patients in their recovery. – I know many patients well. I know that they often treat participation in the Rally as a challenge. Often, their condition is not such that they can ride a bike on a daily basis, but they mobilize themselves for that day. I remember a patient who was in a difficult moment of illness, but he managed to ride a shorter distance: it was his victory over himself. He rode this distance together with his wife, which also shows how important family support is – adds Prof. Dytfeld.

This year’s Rally is attended not only by patients with myeloma, but also by those with other hematological diseases. – Participation in the Rally is important for many reasons; firstly, patients show that they can cope by overcoming their weaknesses. Secondly, they meet other patients and their families who have similar problems. This shows that in a difficult moment of illness, you are not alone; there is family, loved ones, doctors, physiotherapists, nurses. Feeling support makes it easier to endure the disease – says Prof. Dytfeld, emphasizing that the day of the Rally is always marked in his calendar as one of the most important events of the year, which cannot be missed. – Sitting at a desk, there is often not enough time to talk calmly with a patient. We are all here together, we travel arm in arm, we talk; this shows that we are trying to fight this disease together – adds Prof. Dytfeld.

He also talks about the Rally to his newly diagnosed myeloma patients, who are often terrified after hearing the diagnosis by the potential complications they read about on the Internet, such as kidney damage, dialysis therapy, bone fractures. “This can happen if patients are not treated. I invite them to the Rally so that they can see that the disease is not so terrible, many patients do not look like they have any disease at all,” emphasizes Prof. Dytfeld.

This year, the Rally is also supported by Ambassadors who want to show that the idea of ​​the Rally is close to them. These include Filip “Rudy” Antonowicz, Jakub Bieniek, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Klaudia Carlos, Adam Kornacki, Rafał Królikowski, Karolina Nowakowska, Aleksandra Pawlik, Maciej Rock. – I believe that famous people should also use their popularity to promote a healthy lifestyle, but also to show that we cannot treat illness as a sentence that closes the chance for further life. It is worth showing that despite various ailments, you can fulfill your dreams, act, realize yourself, look at the world with optimism. When we are in a positive mood, illnesses often have a different course – emphasizes Rafał Królikowski, a theater and film actor, who was the first to agree to be an Ambassador of this year’s Rally.

– I will ride in a way that supports others, and if someone feels like getting off the bike at some point and talking, I will gladly sit with them, laugh with them, and spend time together. I believe that my participation in the Rally will bring joy to someone, maybe it will make them look at themselves differently. This is important even if it is just a few hours of positive thinking, forgetting about the disease – adds Rafał Królikowski.

Health Zone, Research and Integration

This year, participants of the Rajd Po Zdrowie will have two routes to choose from: the first is 6 km long (around Lake Malta), the second is 24 km long and will be a ride through Poznań. This year’s Rajd Po Zdrowie is not only a distance to cover by bike, but above all, it is an integration of patients and the entire community, which contributes to the increasingly better treatment of hematooncological diseases through its activities, as well as an opportunity for less formal conversations between patients and doctors “not from two sides of the desk”. It is also a great opportunity for everyone to take care of their health and have preventive tests. The organizers invite everyone to join the integration and tests.

– Rajd Po Zdrowie is an event for everyone, regardless of whether someone will go by bike or not, as there are many attractions waiting for participants: the possibility of performing preventive tests, and even a special zone for the youngest participants, which is why we invite entire families – emphasizes Łukasz Rokicki.

This year, everyone will be able to take advantage of free preventive tests in places such as MammoBus, CytoBus, Osteobus, DeromoBus, hematology, cardiology, radiology consultations, and a first aid course. You will also be able to register in the bone marrow donor database, and there will be plenty of fun for the youngest.

Special purpose of the rally: Rehabilitation

The special purpose of the rally is the rehabilitation of hematooncological patients. Anyone interested can additionally support the campaign by making a contribution https://pomagam.pl/47abnb

– Until recently, rehabilitation for patients with myeloma was often contraindicated, due to the fact that bone fractures could occur during active disease. However, thanks to very effective treatment, the lives of patients are completely different than they used to be. Patients have many years of life ahead of them, rehabilitation is an important part of their treatment. We want doctors, physiotherapists, and above all, the patients themselves to know this. Rehabilitation and physical activity, of course adapted to the patient’s abilities, are necessary – emphasizes Prof. Dytfeld.

Rally for Health: Poznań and all of Poland

For people taking part in the rally in Poznań, there is a possibility of renting a bike (on a first come, first served basis due to the limited number of bikes).

– During the event, we will be able to bid on many donated items, such as a ball and a T-shirt from Kuba Błaszczykowski, a T-shirt from the Dancing with the Stars Finalists, and many others. If someone cannot be in Poznań, then, similarly to last year’s edition, you can take part in the rally remotely, from anywhere on Earth. All you need to do is declare your location and the number of kilometers you will drive. A week before the event, we will send everyone a starting package. We invite you! We also hope that we will prove once again that Nothing is Impossible – adds Łukasz Rokicki.

All details about the rally and the registration form can be found on the website (www.rajdpozdrowie.org)(http://www.rajdpozdrowie.org),

Source: Carita Foundation press release