Cycling to Barcelona with Parkinson's: the story of Kees and Marjolijn

Almost fifteen years ago, Kees de Bot (75) was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Instead of standing still, on April 15 he got on a three-wheeler together with his partner Marjolijn for a journey of over 1.500 kilometers: from their houseboat in Leiden to San Sadurní, near Barcelona.

A scientist who researched his own language

Kees is an emeritus professor of linguistics and approached his illness the way he approached his field: empirically. Four years before his official diagnosis, he noticed subtle changes in his language use. He decided to systematically document and analyze this. Together with Marjolijn, also a professor, he wrote books about this process. They chose a light tone—not to trivialize the disease, but to show that living with Parkinson's is more than just decline. It is about continuing to make connections, both in language and in life.

A journey with meaning

The bike trip to Spain is the ultimate goal of this 'staying active'. On electric tricycles, accompanied by girlfriends in a "sweeper," they pedal towards their grandchildren. For Kees, the biggest challenge lies not in the cycling itself, but in the constant interaction with the environment. That is precisely where the training lies: moving forward means staying active, even when not everything moves along with it.

The crucial role of Medicooler: Travel with Confidence

For someone with Parkinson's, a journey of 1.500 kilometers is not only a physical challenge but also a logistical puzzle. Kees uses a pump. The medication gel for this pump is extremely temperature-sensitive and must remain refrigerated under all circumstances, even during long, hot days on the bike and in places where there is no power outlet nearby.

This is where the expertise of Medicooler peeking around the corner. Together with Kees and Marjolijn, we have set up a system that guarantees the medication remains at the correct temperature. Our active cool box runs on a powerful battery specifically tailored to the needs of their trip.

We're on our way! The cooler and battery are working perfectly! Message from Marjolijn, somewhere on the road in Belgium.

Why we do this

For us, this is exactly the reason that Medicooler exists. We believe that a medical challenge should never define the limits of your world. Our mission is Travel with Confidence: giving people back the freedom and self-confidence to travel, be with family, and embark on adventures, knowing that their vital medication is safe.

We are incredibly proud to be able to contribute to Kees and Marjolijn's mission. Their journey shows that with the right mindset and the right technique, more is possible than you think.

The combination Kees uses for his trip is a special Dometic cool box with an external battery that can remain autonomously cooled between 2-8°C for more than 3 days. Are you also curious about the best solution for your trip and a tailor-made solution? We are happy to help! Email us at Info@medicooler.nl for personal advice on traveling with your medication.

Help advance research

Stories like that of Kees and Marjolijn show what living with Parkinson's disease means. Research is behind every step forward. Do you want to contribute to groundbreaking research into Parkinson's? Then support the Parkinson Fund of ParkinsonNL.