Description

Antwerp fire department runs for inclusion

Some 40 firefighters took on an inclusion challenge: they challenged themselves and ran the AG Antwerp 10 Miles with 10 children in wheelchairs! They alternated to get all the children across the finish line. The Triple Challenge Club joined in and assisted them in word and deed 🔥!

A personal story

The story of this challenge begins with Sam De Pagie, firefighter and dad of 3 beautiful daughters! His oldest daughter, Nette, has a disability that means she will never be able to run the Ten Miles of Antwerp herself. But Sam desperately wants her to experience the sporting event.

“Nette is at a mental age of three. We can’t really prepare them for the event. It’s still a gamble how she will react. My wife is also running. She has run the 10 Miles more times than I have. If the crowds would still be too much for Nette, my wife can step in and I’ll continue running with the firemen.”

And Sam is not alone, his colleague Tom Timmermans is also running with his niece Sarah. They have been participating in the 10 Miles for several years. But this year they are going a step further and are setting up this challenge together: pushing at least 10 children and young people ahead of the fellow firefighters. Surely that’s just the max!

Support their action!

Sam’s colleagues want to give him a boost and are also setting up a support campaign. They see it as a great opportunity to do something extra: they are raising money for both ⭐️ Triple Challenge (we advocate inclusive sports and provide equipment) and ⭐️ de Maanwandelaars.be, an organization that strives to enable people with disabilities to live with the least possible impact of this disability.