Tim Stok runs Paris Marathon for his niece Aniek

Tim recounts completing the marathon through the sun-drenched arrondissements of Paris on April 13, 2013:

“Dressed in a tight white shirt adorned with the purple emblem of the Aniek Hendriksz Foundation, Second to None. With a goal of 3 hours and 30 minutes in mind. And with the mental strength and perseverance of my niece Aniek. Never give up, never surrender. A marathon is a long endurance test of just over 42 kilometers. You have to put in many training hours and start early. So I began my first runs in January. From February onwards, I followed a tighter schedule with about 3-4 long training sessions per week. Sometimes you’re out there for 2 hours, even in the cold winter months. There were times when I felt tempted to skip an evening or cut a run short. But no, then I thought of Aniek and pushed even harder. I had chosen the Aniek Hendriksz Foundation, Second to None, as my goal for the marathon. As an ambassador for the foundation, it is my duty to promote the mission – to support, encourage, and honor individuals who have shown exemplary courage in facing their tragic fate. I made sure to inform my friends and colleagues multiple times about my goal and why I was doing it. The responses were very positive. The day itself was incredibly special. The weather was fantastic: sunny, a bit cold, and no wind. And my girlfriend and best friends were along the course. In short, ideal conditions to finish my first marathon within 3:30. The trick is to start calmly and also enjoy everything around you. Before I knew it, I was halfway through the race and everything was still going well. But around kilometer 33 (out of 42), things started to get a bit tougher. You want to run slowly, take a break, but then you think about why you’re doing it. And here too, I thought about my niece Aniek several times. She, who fought so bravely against a terrible disease, showed such resilience, and always remained so positive. If Aniek resisted her illness with an iron will for years, I could manage another half hour. The relief was immense when I crossed the finish line after 3 hours and 28 minutes. Thanks to Aniek, never give up, never surrender!”