Eight students are dancing to fight cancer in Assen, Emmen and Hoogeveen. ‘Celebrating life together’

Actually, it is officially called a shadowing internship, but the eight students who manage the top floor of the business premises in Hoogeveen every Monday have started a monster job together that many graduates will envy. Together they organize three major walking tours and dance parties in Drenthe under the name Walk & Dance to Fight Cancer.

‘What have I started?’

Event agency Niquell from Hoogeveen decided to offer the assignment for the anti-cancer event as an internship assignment at schools in Drenthe, Groningen and Zwolle. Nine young people joined, and one student dropped out due to circumstances.

Yentl (21) from Steenwijk calls it very exciting and great fun. “On the first day we received so much information that I thought for a moment: what have I gotten myself into? We are really thrown into the deep end and we learn all kinds of things very quickly,” says the Facility Management student who is responsible for the event in Emmen with two colleagues.

The eight are no longer just concerned with passing their internship, as became apparent during an enthusiastic group discussion at the headquarters in Hoogeveen. The plans in felt-tip pen are written and pasted on large sheets of paper on the wall. On the regular table, eight open laptops and all mobile phones at the ready to attract sponsors, donors, participants and volunteers.

Personal motivation

It is clear: they want to raise as much money as possible, at least three hundred thousand, at least five hundred participants at the start per city and three large dance parties afterwards.

“But above all we want to celebrate life. Walking together to reflect on what cancer means for peers and young adults,” says Annelinde (20) from Hoogeveen, who is organizing a home race. “My mother had cancer and I know how it can turn your life upside down. I hope she will join us at our event soon. So for me this is much more than just an internship.”

There is also a personal motivation for Joël, a business administration student from Groningen. “My father was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease last year and a 23-year-old friend of mine has testicular cancer. That has a serious impact, especially at a young age. You can lose friends, relationships break down and it is difficult to talk about it.”

High threshold for young people

It is for that reason that they want to raise money specifically for young adults with the disease. “There is KiKa for children and there are also many campaigns and events for the elderly. We consciously focus on the ages 18 to 39,” Yentl explains. “At that age there are often other questions: Can I still have children? Do I have to finish my studies? There are often so many changes in someone’s life.”

Research also shows that it is more difficult for young adults to discuss the disease or cross the threshold of so-called drop-in centers.

Imitha (18) from Epe has a striking imitation of a conversation by two older ladies on the market, to visualize the gap. ,,Did you hear? Anja is also sick. Oh no, that one too.”

Then she continues with a more serious look: “It’s just easier to discuss it later in life because it unfortunately happens so often. Young people don’t just tell each other in the pub that they are sick. It’s often more uncomfortable to talk about it.”

No soup but dancing

So as much of the proceeds as possible will go to research, prevention and younger cancer patients in the north. Such as the AYA (Adolescent and Young Adults) department at the Wilhelmina Hospital in Assen, where young people diagnosed with cancer can go for questions about studies, work, relationships and sexuality. The Sigrid’s Garden drop-in center in Emmen and the Het Toon Hermans Huis Drenthe meeting center in Hoogeveen can also expect a donation.

The very young organization now also focuses on peers as participants. “We don’t end with a cup of hot chocolate and a mustard soup, as is often the case with a walking tour. We will have a fantastic dance party afterwards,” Annelinde predicts.

Unique internship

While they were thrown to the lions two months ago, there is already a lot in the works. They applied for the permits themselves and booked the first artists for along the route and at the party. FC Emmen and FC Groningen are on board and appointments are planned with the mayors of three cities. “Yes, it is a unique internship in every respect,” says Joël, laughing.