#teamplacenta - Walk for Twin Research (For Emilie and Mathilde)

Rescheduled to April 23 - because apparently the joke was on us with the weather! 

Did you know that twins who share a placenta are at a high risk of complications? This has a lasting effect on families who are diagnosed with these complications.

This year, the Twin Run is raising funds for the Well Bee Study, a study by the LUMC designed to investigate the impact of a complicated diagnosis on families, and also help improve the mental health support these families are given.

While the official event is on May 14th, as part of the Leiden Marathon, I can't take part because I'm on the organizing committee for the day, and otherwise occupied.. So that's why, on April 1, I'm committing to walking twice around the Weerwater to raise funds for twin research.

Emilie and Mathilde’s Story
Emmy and Tilly were born at 31 weeks in the LUMC, Leiden, and were diagnosed with Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS). We were extremely lucky, as we had been diagnosed and cared for by the LUMC team since 24 weeks, and have had amazing long term followups and support. I can honestly say that we are so lucky to have the girls as healthy and healthy as they are – the team at the LUMC have been an incredible blessing and support, and are genuinely, actively interested and involved in the care process.

Why April 1?
It's no joke what families go through when they're diagnosed with TAPS, TTTS, SFGR or other complications. We're often left feeling alone and there's not a lot of support because there's little to no understanding of this.

Why the Weerwater?
Well, you probably don't know this, but in the early days of Almere, it was almost given the name Placenta. (It's a true story - https://www.1almere.nl/2022/07/07/placenta-was-de-eerste-naam-van-het-weerwater/

The Weerwater also goes past Flevoziekenhuis - a place where my girls spent quite a bit of time after they were released from Leiden, so you can understand there's a personal connection to it.

Why 2 laps?
One for each twin, naturally. Monochorionic twins share a placenta, and anyone who knows my girls knows they can't share - so one each.

I'm inviting anyone who wants to join me, Marius, and the girls as we take on this challenge. You just have to turn up, wear red and white, and be prepared to have fun. It's around 13 kilometers, we'll be following the Rondje Weerwater route and starting by the Kunstlinie at 10am.

You're welcome to join us, but please help us support this amazing project. Thank you