Ghent University veterinary medicine student Kaat De Haeck (26) walked 100 kilometres to support the Parkinson’s Research Fund. By taking part in the Dodentocht, a 100-kilometre walking challenge, she raised €2,000. Just a few weeks before the event, her grandmother Anita died of Parkinson’s disease. Today, Kaat meets Professor Patrick Santens, the man who is turning her commitment into hope for the future: “Every euro donated to the Fund is a lever for innovative research.”
In Professor Santens’ office at Ghent University Hospital, the student and neurologist shake hands for the first time. It is a special moment. For Kaat, slightly nerve-racking; for the professor, a rare opportunity to thank a donor in person. “It is not often that a student takes the initiative to do something like this,” says Professor Santens. Behind Kaat’s donation and sporting challenge lies a deeply personal story.
Grandma as a second mum
Grandma Anita was Kaat’s inspiration. “She was like a second mum to me,” says Kaat. “Because my parents are self-employed, I spent my time after school and every holiday with Grandma. I will never forget the holidays we spent in her caravan by the sea.” In 2018, Anita was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. “This form not only affects movement, but also causes cognitive problems,” explains Professor Santens.
As her grandmother’s condition deteriorated rapidly, Kaat’s family decided to care for Anita themselves. “We adapted the house so that Grandma could continue living at home. My sister is a healthcare professional and, together with my mum, took on most of the care, supported by the rest of the family,” says Kaat. Professor Santens also recognises the enormous effort involved: “In this way, you were able to give her a dignified life.” Kaat nods: “We are glad we did. She was always surrounded by family, and that clearly did her good.”
Choosing research
During the preparations for the Dodentocht, Kaat’s grandmother followed her progress closely. “Even when she could barely remember anything anymore, she closely followed my training.” As a veterinary medicine student, Kaat has a scientific background and wanted to make a difference in the fight against Parkinson’s through a fundraising campaign. “There are various funds that support patients, but I wanted to tackle the problem at its source by contributing financially to Parkinson’s research. As a Ghent University student, choosing for my own university was an easy decision.”
A few weeks before the Dodentocht, Anita passed away. Kaat says: “I wondered whether I should still take part. But I decided to go, to honour Grandma and with the fundraising campaign in mind.” The challenge itself was gruelling: after 75 kilometres, Kaat was feeling sick and in pain and could barely eat. Her father did not hesitate, put on his walking shoes and joined her for the final 30 kilometres. Her housemates also supported Kaat all the way to the finish.
“They literally dragged me across those final kilometres to the finish line. After 23 hours, I crossed it.”
A lifeline for research
Through her campaign, Kaat raised €2,000 from around thirty donors. “It may not seem like much, but I am proud of the contribution I was able to make.” Professor Santens disagrees: “Every euro is a lever. For us, this fund is a lifeline and an insurance policy.” He explains that official research funding is becoming increasingly scarce. Thanks to unrestricted donations, Professor Santens and his team can launch innovative projects for which the government does not yet provide funding.
One concrete example is Ghent University research into the link between the gut and Parkinson’s disease. “There are strong indications that the disease begins in the gut in many patients. Thanks to the Fund, we were able to carry out an initial study into faecal microbiota transplantation. The promising results enabled us to secure funding for a large-scale study,” says Professor Santens. “The impact of a donation like this can therefore be enormous.”
Inspiring others
Kaat hopes her story will encourage others to support the Fund. Or rather, it already does. “After my campaign, my uncle Koen Plaetinck also started thinking about how he could support Parkinson’s research. His band ART’uur is releasing an album soon, and the inside of the sleeve will feature a QR code linking to his fundraising campaign. It also shows how diverse fundraising initiatives can be.” Professor Santens adds: “Beyond the financial contribution, stories like Kaat’s are the moral driving force behind our team. They remind us who we are doing this for: the people behind the disease.”
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