Sien (25) is running 10 miles with Pink Ribbon for her grandmother: “She beat breast cancer, but the emotional toll took a heavy toll on her”

Physical challenges don’t faze Sien. As a military medic with the Ministry of Defense and a volunteer with the fire department, she’s on the front lines for others every day. But no other experience has left such a deep impression on her as the battle her “bomma” fought against breast cancer fifteen years ago.

“My grandma beat the disease back then, but she fell into a deep depression afterward that she never really recovered from,” Sien says. Today, her grandmother also has dementia. “I often wonder if there was enough support back then. Aren’t patients left too much to fend for themselves once the medical treatment ends? The impact on your mental well-being is enormous. I want there to be more focus on that psychosocial support.”

A sea of pink runners through Antwerp

Sien is one of the 31 participants who will be competing on Sunday as part of the official Pink Ribbon. Together, these runners have already raised an estimated 4,276 euros in donations. Pink Ribbon, the nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer, will also be on site to sell merchandise and raise awareness of its work.

“As a paramedic, I see people at their absolute worst,” Sien concludes. “Those 16 kilometers through Antwerp will be tough, but I’m running for the people who can’t do it right now—for patients who are fighting hard at this very moment or who need support to reintegrate into society after their illness. If I can make them feel that they’re not alone in this, then I’ve succeeded.”

Moved by a wave of donations

The fact that her story touches people is evident from the impressive total on her Pink Ribbon fundraising page. While she had hoped to raise the required 100 euros, the total has since reached 10 times that amount—1,076 euros. “When I launched the crowdfunding campaign last week and saw that there was suddenly 400 euros in the account, I got really emotional. I hadn’t expected that at all, especially not in just a few days.”  

Sien tapped into her network of 3,000 Instagram followers and her colleagues at the Ministry of Defense and the fire department. The response was overwhelming. “53 people have already donated. All of them are people I know personally: family, friends, colleagues... The enthusiasm seems to be contagious. Everyone knows someone in their circle who is dealing with breast cancer. Just recently, a colleague’s friend, Isabelle, was diagnosed. She’s in her thirties with a young child. For many, it hits very close to home.”

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This article also appeared in *Het Laatste Nieuws* on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

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