Zontians from Area 5, District 27, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Ukraine, comprised a 35-member Zonta On Tour Cycling Team to kom op tegen kanker, stand up to cancer, through a four-day bike tour in Flanders.

One way the team trains is by cycling to district conferences whenever possible. Their driving force is their deare Zonta friend, Griet De Prycker, who lost her battle against cancer. Her motto was “focus on the sun,” the team stuck to this motto during their bike rides, despite rain or wind.

This year, the team aims to draw attention to the Zonta Says NO campaign. For the fifth year, they will embark on a journey to reach district conferences by bike. This time, they began their trip from the same point where we had concluded in 2021: Leuven, Belgium.

On Wednesday, 20 September, the team disembarked from Leuven to Vaals, Netherlands. Their 130 kilometers (about 80.8 miles) took them through Tienen, Sint-Truiden and Tongeren before we reached Vaals. The next day, they followed the Vennbahn bike route to Troisvièrges, Luxembourg, covering a distance of 135 kilometers. On Friday, they embarked on a 90-kilometer journey from Troisvièrges, heading south towards Luxembourg. In total, they covered 355 kilometers and encountered numerous uphill challenges, a true test even for their well-trained legs.

The team successfully conquered these challenges with the invaluable assistance of their dedicated sports team and logistical support whenever it was needed. Their arrival in Luxembourg was marked by a warm welcome from Honorary Member Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, President Ute Schulz and many other dignitaries.

The team felt incredibly fortunate to be a part of Zonta, an organization that continuously motivates and propels us forward, regardless of our obstacles. The Zonta On Tour Team presented a generous donation of 5,000 euros to the Zonta Foundation for Women.

Click here to watch a short film from the team.