Lakes Dad with terminal Cancer, using bikes to encourage those like him to show 'Rider Resilience'
Despite terminal diagnosis, Nils Amelinckx is hoping his new project can help those who are struggling, deal with their problems and 'Ride it Out'.
Last updated 24th Oct 2022
A Lakes man with terminal Bowel Cancer is using his passion for mountain biking as a way to help others.
Nils Amelinckx, 35, who is originally from Belgium, but moved to Cumbria in 2010 to be with his Kendal born wife, has set up Rider Resilience, which aims to support those like him through cycling and telling the stories of others, who equally have overcome struggles by getting out on their bikes.
It aims to show the difference biking - either on roads or mountains- can make to people's lives. He told CFM more about it. "There's various things that we can support. Disadvantaged community groups are obviously really key to us. It's all about using business as a force for good if we can, and anything we can do to pay it forward and make those funds go forward.
It's all about using business as a force for good
For me personally, I find a lot of your mental capacity is taken up by simply riding, and it means I can really switch off. I can get out before sunrise, then watch the sunrise while i'm on my bike, and that whole package combined will genuinely leave me buzzing for weeks.
It's not just about Cancer sufferers like me. For example, a couple might have had multiple miscarriages. Riding a bike doesn't make that problem go away, but it stops them entering a really dark place with it, and hopefully helps them to get out and regain that mental clarity."
The push to make Rider Resilience into a serious project came after Nils recently got the news that after five years of living with Cancer, treatment was no longer working. He told CFM about that meeting with his Oncologist.
"I probed a little bit further, and said I need to plan my life and know what i'm looking at. He said you are looking at months rather than years now. That's nothing new, that was always the case that I was dying. But it really sharpened my mind and made me think about the things I really want to achieve."
My illness has made me think about the things I want to achieve
Given Nils is only 35, and a dad of two young children aged 6 and 4, we asked him if he ever had dark days where he felt angry about his illness, and the situation he is in.
"I try not to be angry about it. I really try to see the positive of everything. With the doctors saying we are looking at months now, rather than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, i've tried to turn that negative news into energy, and just try to squeeze those sour lemons of life a bit harder, and make lemonade"
For more information go to www.riderresilience.org