Kortrijk (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Brecht Vierstraete and Jamaica Crevits pedsling from Kortriik to Paris to raise funds for AZ Groninge hospital. Despite challenges Brecht completed the journey with his son covering 382 kilometers.
Brecht Vierstraete 27, and Jamaica Crevits 41, from Kortrijk Kayak Club set off on a meaningful trip from Lei River in Kortrijk to the Seine in Paris last Wednesday. They did this to collect money for AZ Groeninge hospital to help patients with brain damage that wasn’t there from birth. Brecht Vierstraete got hurt badly over a year ago when he fell and hit his head. Although he recovered physically he still deals with emotional ups and downs, pain and dizziness especially when tired. This tough journey inspired him to support others facing similar challenges by raising awareness and funds for people with non-congenital brain damage. His kayak adventure is not just a personal test but also a way to help a cause he deeply cares about.
What challenges did Brecht and Jamaica face on their journey to Paris?
During the trip to Paris Jamaica had to stop for personal reasons causing a problem. To keep things going Brecht’s sister Ulrike stepped in to help out taking over Jamaica’s tasks so the journey could carry on despite the issue. As the kayakers were nearing the Paris district they received news that they were not permitted to continue their journey.It has been said that this sudden halt could have been caused by local regulations safety considerations, or other restrictions that prevented them from reaching their final destination just before entering Paris.
Brecht knew there might be unexpected problems on their trip saying “We were ready for these issues.” They stayed flexible and decided to turn back changing their route but still aiming to paddle the 378 kilometers they had planned. Even though they had to adjust their plans they actually ended up paddling 382 kilometers in total. To finish their trip Brecht had his son Georges on his lap for the last part of the journey. It has been said that this special moment made the end of their adventure really memorable and meaningful showing how important family is and the journey’s significance even with the challenges they encountered.
