There are journeys you return from slowly, and there are those from which - mentally - you never truly return at all.
That is exactly how it is with my cycling expedition to Nordkapp. Even though seven months have passed since it ended, it remains vividly alive in my mind. Sometimes it comes back as short stories shared with friends, sometimes as a fleeting glance on my way out to work at the large wooden map of Scandinavia that Monika gave me after my return, and sometimes simply as quiet moments drifting back to the very best and very hardest days on the road.
Yet this entire journey and its story would hold little real meaning today - beyond personal memories and a somewhat selfish “I made it!” - if it weren’t for you and your generosity in the fundraiser for Franek.
A few days ago, Franek’s mom posted a comprehensive summary of the fundraiser on Facebook, sharing news about the launch of the research trials. I have included the link to the full post below, but I want to quote its most important part:
“Today we come with a summary of the fundraiser and, from the bottom of our hearts, we say: thank you! It is thanks to you that we were able to fund the drug research in the US. From hundreds of potential substances, researchers shortlisted 28 chemical compounds, which were tested in a dose-response framework and evaluated at 24 and 48 hours. The obtained data confirmed the researchers’ earlier hypotheses. From this group, three substances were selected that offer the greatest hope for clinical benefits for Franek. We have already been administering one of them for three months, and we will introduce the remaining two in the near future-each individually, to closely monitor their efficacy and any potential side effects.”
Dear friends, this is all because of you and your open hearts. Once again, thank you for every single donation and for every kind word and comment left under my posts along the route. I read through all of them only after coming back home - I did it once through a flood of tears, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it a second time. It was simply too emotional.
Franek, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you harder than you could ever imagine! And you have my word - if it is ever needed, we will embark on another expedition like this, riding just as far as it takes!