Sikkelcelfonds
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Bijlmer Run 2026 Together in Motion for the Sikkelcelfonds
Everyone runs their own race, and together we move forward. The Bijlmer Run is more than a sporting event, it's a movement. An invitation to take action, both literally and figuratively. For yourself. For each other. For a world where health doesn't depend on luck or background.
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder. A change in the DNA causes red blood cells to develop a sickle shape, which means they can carry less oxygen and can clog blood vessels. This causes pain, serious infections, and organ damage. Many people with sickle cell disease live with daily pain and fatigue, and often do not achieve the life expectancy we take for granted.
Sickle cell disease is most common in people with roots in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and Asia. As a result, the disease primarily affects the Black community in the Netherlands, a community that is often less heard when it comes to healthcare and
research.
The Sikkelcelfonds is committed to better care, increased awareness, and life-saving research. Because what seems like a short distance to one person can feel like a marathon to someone with sickle cell disease.
That's why we run to show that health is not fairly distributed,
but that together we can do something about it.
How could you help?
Join us and support the Sikkelcelfonds. Register for the Bijlmer Run 5k, 10k, or half marathon and support sickle cell disease research with a one-time donation.
Start your own fundraising page. Turn your participation into a personal mission. Get sponsored by friends, family, or colleagues and contribute to research and better healthcare.
Rock the merch. We're celebrating 5 years of the Bijlmer Run with an exclusive collaboration: Patta x Sickle Cell Fund. Limited merch with a mission, and all proceeds go to the Sikkelcelfonds.
Charita Zandgrond (organisation of the Bijlmer run):
For me, choosing the Sikkelcelfonds is no coincidence. Sickle cell disease is common in my circle, and I've seen firsthand what this disease means.
As a young girl, I saw my cousin admitted to the
AMC a few times a year for a severe crisis. That was about 35 years ago. Back then, doctors had little choice other than to administer morphine to relieve the pain. Little was known about the disease, research was in its infancy, and the right medication was lacking.
Now, decades later, thankfully more knowledge has been gained, but there is still too little awareness and too little funding for research. Three people in my immediate circle have now undergone a stem cell transplant. An intensive treatment that offers hope, but also carries significant risks and is not an option for everyone.
In total, I know about eight people with sickle cell disease. Eight people for whom health is not a given, and this has a major impact on those close to them. And yet, I notice that within my network, there's still little awareness about this disease. There's too little awareness, too little attention.
With the Bijlmer Run, I want to change that. The disease directly affects our community, and that's precisely why this is the time to get moving together. By running, we not only increase the visibility of sickle cell disease, but we also run together for equal opportunities in health and care.
Will you help?
