Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – At Toverland in Bruges, Pierrick and 23 others ride the Troy wooden coaster (90 km/h) for 24 hours to raise funds for Stichting Jade, supporting families affected by childhood cancer.
As VRT News reported, at Toverland, the Troy roller coaster is hosting a charity event. Troy is the biggest wooden coaster in the Benelux. It goes very fast, up to 90 kilometers per hour. It does not go upside down. Pierrick and 23 others are riding it for 24 hours. They started at noon today, May 24, 2025.
They are doing this to raise money. To join, people had to pass 2 tests. The tests checked if they could handle the ride. Some riders were removed after each test. Finally, 24 people were picked. Pierrick rode Troy about 10 times this week to get ready. He knows it is hard to prepare for this. He plans to look at the horizon. He will let his body move with the coaster to avoid getting sick.
How will riding Troy for 24 hours help families with childhood cancer?
The event organizers are prioritizing safety. Riders get short breaks every hour to hydrate and stretch for 5 minutes. Every 6 hours, they have a longer break to eat or use the restroom. These structured pauses are crucial because riding the coaster continuously is physically demanding.
Officials mentioned that despite the challenge, the riders are motivated by the cause: raising money and awareness for charity. As Pierrick explains, it’s about teamwork and staying focused on the larger goal. For a full 24 hours, they’ll endure the twists, drops, and speeds of the Troy, transforming an amusement park experience into an act of dedication and generosity.
Toverland organizes this special charity campaign every 3 years, Pierrick explains, his voice filled with both pride and emotion. Each time the park selects a different charitable cause to support, ensuring that the event makes a meaningful difference. This year, they have chosen Stichting Jade, a foundation set up by Jade Kops, a teenager who is terminally ill.
Together with her family, Jade has dedicated herself to helping other families affected by childhood cancer by offering them a precious opportunity: a restorative holiday stay in a beach villa.
They mentioned that the aim of the campaign is to raise enough funds to cover the full costs for all the families staying in the foundation’s villa for an entire year, giving them a chance to relax, heal, and create special memories away from the hospital environment.
Pierrick lost his friend Jonas to cancer recently. They shared a love for amusement parks. Pierrick says burying Jonas was very hard. Now, the charity feels very close to his heart. He wants to honor Jonas by riding the roller coaster for a full day. This isn’t just a challenge or a fundraiser for him. It’s a way to remember his friend and help families dealing with cancer. He wants to make something good come from his loss.
