05/05/2026
Merel (19) will run the TCS Amsterdam Marathon this October. Sheβs doing it for her grandfather, who passed away from mesothelioma: ''For me, he was so much more than just my grandfather: he was my best friend, my biggest supporter, and my teddy bear. He was always there for me, from the day I was born until his very last day. Now itβs my turn to give something back.
I had been thinking about running a half marathon for a while. At the start of 2026, I decided: this is the year. I run to keep his memory alive. But also to show that, no matter how powerless it may feel sometimes, together we are stronger than alone.β
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