Diana de Bijl​

Hi hi,

My name is Diana, I’m 46 years old and I live in Tegelen. I am happily married to Roy, and together we have 2 boys, Syd and Liam. In August 2022, I noticed a withdrawal in my chest. It took 3 weeks before I dared to call the doctor.

Once called, it went into high gear. Within 3 days I had all the examinations. (mammography, ultrasound, MRI and puncture). The rash Lobular breast cancer Hormonal.

Then your life will be turned upside down…

What follows are 16 x chemo (4x AC 12x Paclitaxel) 1st surgery (10 January) removal of gatekeeper lymph nodes. 2nd operation (January 31) Mastectomy with a reconstruction with your own abdominal fat, a so-called deep lap.

I was in the hospital for 1 week, and then I had to lie flat at home for another 5 weeks. I will also start hormone therapy in January (for 7 years). Getting back on track from the chemo and the surgeries was an intense process. It’s like my whole body has been reset. In July I went to the hospital for 3 months of rehabilitation. This has done me good physically and mentally.

I signed up for the dream team because I really wanted to run again, but didn’t know how to go about it again. The first training session was quite tough. I thought I had built up some fitness with rehabilitation, but condition was really nothing anymore.

In the meantime, we have had a few training sessions, and I can already see progress. I hope that in March 2024 I will be running across the finish line smiling and full of pride.

Greetings,

Diana

Meanwhile, we have been training with the Dream Team for almost four months. The first weeks were tough: my fitness and muscle strength were nil. The 16 rounds of chemotherapy and deep-lap surgery did a lot to my muscle strength. During rehabilitation (from July to September), I did do something with muscle strength, but still too little to really build up anything.

With the start of the Dream team, I also started strength training twice a week, under the guidance of a physiotherapist. After the very first training session of the Dream team, I came home with a ‘big smile’. How nice that felt and what a great group! Under Henk’s guidance, I enjoy going to training twice a week.

After about three weeks, I get a whiplash. Not from running, but from a bike accident. Ooooh, how bummed I am about this. After two weeks of sitting at home, I went back to training. Joining training was not an option yet, but I wanted to be there. After about four weeks, I was able to quietly start training again. That was really great to participate actively again.

Every training session I enjoy going to Sportpark Vrijenbroek, and if I can’t go (which hardly ever happens) I really feel like I’m missing something. Every training session is very pleasant with everyone. Henk gives very good training sessions and if I can’t go, that’s no problem. Everyone understands this. Meanwhile, I have already run over 5 kilometres!

When Henk told us he was keen for us to join the Orion New Year’s Run, I was a bit hesitant at first. Could I already do that? Can I keep that up, 5 kilometres? The next training session that followed was in the Jaomer valley, the red route. This one is exactly 5 kilometres. Since we start at Vrijenbroek, this route puts us at 6 kilometres. For me, this was the answer to my questions. I immediately registered for the 5 kilometres. Sunday 7 January is the New Year’s Run and how happy I am to be able to run it already! And the time… Oh well, before I got sick my goal was to run the 5 kilometres under half an hour. That goal has now changed: running the 5 kilometres and crossing the finish line with pride is now my goal.

I am grateful to have been given this opportunity by the Venloop to join the Dream team. And of course a thank you to Henk, Vivian and my fellow Dreamteam members. They make sure I go home satisfied every training session.

Sporting greetings,

Diana

Then it’s 24 March. THE day of the Venloop. How nervous and tense I was. Why? I wouldn’t know. 1 week before, we ran the whole course on Wednesday evening and that went fine. So cool that we had 3 supervisors on bikes.

Henk in front of the fast, Ellie in the middle and Vivian cycling behind us (Karin and I). That made me feel very safe. It took me 1 hour and 17 minutes. By then I was proud of myself though!!! 3 weeks earlier on 3 March the Berden Spring Run was very tough for me, it was suddenly very hot. That really took its toll. In the end I did finish under an hour. But the weather on 24 March was cold and bleak.

The run-in went fine, at 11.50 am we headed to the start box. And then it also just started to rain. Fortunately, someone had been kind enough to bring a poncho for everyone. And then it was 12 o’clock! The starting gun sounds. Before we actually cross the start line, it is already 12.15 pm. But then it really starts. It starts well. I have a steady pace. We start with 5 Dreamteamers together on the parade. After 5 Km Henk is encouraging us, my pace is still the same. It’s going super well …. At 6.5 km (on the Hertog Reinoudsingel) my husband and my parents are cheering me on, at 9 km we run in the opposite direction back on the Hertog Reinoudsingel. My husband and parents are now standing on that side. I remember saying to my husband then; I’m almost there…. And then that Parade comes… how cool is that. Then you feel great. All the people clap, cheer and shout your name. Together with Daisy, I run over the finish line hand in hand and Henk and Vivian give us our well-deserved medal.

And then it’s over! Immediately you get homesick, for this moment, for the training sessions. What a great time I had in the Dream team. Henk called us the ‘ golden seven’. How grateful I am to my teamies, Henk, Vivian for everything. The dream team 2023-2024 is in my heart forever. Also a big thank you to my husband who also supported me with everything. Dear Daisy, Hanneke, Karin, Sonja, Charlotte, Ron, Ellie, Henk, Vivian and Stef thanks for this great time.

Greetings

Diana