Almost fifteen years ago, Kees de Bot (75) was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Instead of standing still, on 15 April he and his partner Marjolijn got on their tricycles for a journey of more than 1,500 kilometres: from their houseboat in Leiden to San Sadurní, near Barcelona.
A scientist who studied his own language
Kees is an emeritus professor of linguistics and approached his illness the way he approached his field: empirically. As early as four years before his official diagnosis, he noticed subtle changes in his use of language. He decided to record and analyse these systematically. Together with Marjolijn, also a professor, he wrote books about this process. They chose a light tone, not to trivialise the disease, but to show that living with Parkinson's is more than just decline. It is about continuing to make connections, both in language and in life.
A journey with meaning
The cycling trip to Spain is the ultimate goal of this 'keep moving'. On electric tricycles, accompanied by friends in a "sweeper van", they are pedalling towards their grandchildren. For Kees, the biggest challenge is not the cycling itself, but the constant interaction with the surroundings. That is exactly where the training lies: moving forward means keeping moving, even when not everything moves with you.
The crucial role of Medicooler: Travel with Confidence
For someone with Parkinson's, a 1,500-kilometre journey is not only a physical challenge but also a logistical puzzle. Kees uses a pump. The medication gel for this pump is extremely temperature-sensitive and must be kept cool under all circumstances, including during long, hot days on the bike and in places with no power socket nearby.
This is where Medicooler's expertise came in. Together with Kees and Marjolijn, we set up a system in which the medication is guaranteed to stay at the right temperature. Our active cool box runs on a powerful battery specially matched to the needs of their journey.
"We're on our way! The cooler and battery are working perfectly!" (Message from Marjolijn, somewhere in Belgium.)
Why we do this
For us, this is exactly why Medicooler exists. We believe that a medical challenge should never set the limits of your world. Our mission is Travel with Confidence: giving people back the freedom and confidence to travel, be with family and go on adventures, knowing that their vital medication is safe.
We are extremely proud to be able to contribute to Kees and Marjolijn's mission. Their journey shows that with the right attitude and the right technology, more is possible than you think.
The combination Kees uses for his journey is a special Dometic cool box with an external battery that can stay cooled autonomously between 2-8°C for more than 3 days. Curious about the best solution for your journey, or a tailor-made solution? We are happy to help! Email us at Info@medicooler.nl for personal advice on travelling with your medication.
Help research move forward
Stories like Kees and Marjolijn's show what living with Parkinson's disease means. Behind every step forward is research. Would you like to contribute to groundbreaking research into Parkinson's? Then support the Parkinson Fonds or ParkinsonNL.