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Two Oceans Ultra Marathon for the itsME foundation

Ended
€10,326.98donated
184%
Goal: €5,600.00

My name is Ties Groeneveld, I am 20 years old. On 11 April 2026, I will be running the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in Cape Town (56 km) together with my brother Lars and our friend Joep to raise money for Stichting ItsME.

On 16 July 2025, we celebrated my sister's graduation. It was a festive day, but during the drinks reception, I didn't feel very well and went home early. At home, I suddenly lost consciousness. My parents found me on the floor later, with a bitten tongue.

The GP suspected flu or a fever, and nothing was found even on a second visit. Meanwhile, I went downhill every day. In total, I walked around with encephalitis for at least five days, without anyone realising what was wrong. This could have been detected earlier if there was more knowledge about the early signs of brain diseases.

On 21 July, I barely reacted to what was being said to me. My father decided to call an ambulance. At the hospital, it quickly became clear: I had herpes encephalitis, a serious inflammation of the brain. During the MRI, I had another severe seizure, and my breathing stopped. I was put into a coma in intensive care and placed on a ventilator.

For my family and friends, these were anxious and uncertain days. I myself didn't realise what was happening to me; I just wanted to return to my old life. After two weeks in hospital, recovery began, slowly and step by step. According to doctors, I would have to spend months in a rehabilitation centre, but because I was put on the waiting list, I would await rehabilitation at home. Fortunately, at home, things improved rapidly, meaning rehabilitation in a centre was no longer necessary.

Months have passed since then, and I can honestly say I've recovered remarkably well. I'm exercising fully, living healthily, and feel stronger than ever. But sadly, this isn't the case for everyone with a brain condition.

This experience has shown me how important rapid recognition, good care, and further research into brain disorders are. Knowledge about the brain, and especially the early warning signs, needs to be improved. That's why I am committed to the ItsME Foundation. With your support, we can contribute to faster recognition, better treatment, and more research into neurological disorders.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
Thank you for your support!

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