Terry de Boer

Ended
181%
Donated: € 2.713,00
Goal: € 1.500,00

On Saturday 20th of August I will be joining the It’s Me Foundation in a 50 km walk to raise funds for research on Auto-Immune Encephalitis (AIE).

What is Auto-Immune Encephalitis (AIE)?
AIE is caused when the immune system makes antibodies that are not supposed to be there. These antibodies attack healthy brain cells, wrongly identifying them as invaders, causing inflammation of the brain. It can affect patients of all ages, including infants and the elderly and can be fatal without treatment.

Why am I raising funds?
My brother is currently recovering from AIE and the journey towards a diagnosis was long and uncertain. AIE is relatively unknown and often misdiagnosed, while early medical treatment significantly increases the chance of a positive outcome. More research is needed to shape an effective recovery program. I want to create more awareness on AIE and raise funds for further research leading to earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatment.

Light Weight Baby!
My brother and I are both fans of Ronnie Coleman, who is the greatest bodybuilder of all time. The shirt I am wearing in the picture with my brother has a famous quote of Ronnie on it. His daily routine mainly consists of eating, training or sleeping. It requires tremendous motivation and resilience from inside to maintain a daily routine like that. Ronnie uses his famous phrase ‘light weight baby’ to push himself past his comfort zone and reach for new levels (like an 800 pound squat).

The mindset and daily routine of a bodybuilder is comparable to what it takes for a patient to recover from AIE. It is not a sprint, but a marathon. I’ll probably need a few Light Weight Baby shouts myself to finish the 50 km walk. Your support will definitely boost my motivation.

Do you want to contribute with a donation?
Awesome! Your donations enable further research and help those who are struggling with this illness. Our overall objective is to raise EUR 100.000,- and we are currently just over EUR 80.000,-.

Thank you!

Participants

These go-getters are committed to achieving more international research into brain (membrane) inflammation. Will you help us reach the goal of this project? Your donation is much appreciated. Every euro counts! Below you can donate to individuals or teams. You can search by team or by the name of the participant.

Want to become a volunteer?

As a professional charity organization, we try to keep costs as low as possible. That's why we can use all the help. As Lionel Richie sang “Is it ME you're looking for?” or if the purpose of our foundation suits you, then register as a volunteer.