Helping hand in the background

Melanie, you've been part of the Rennfietsen Tour since 2016. How did you hear about the event?

I actually come from an artistic cycling background. My husband and I took part in Burning Roads, the cycling marathon in Ochtrup, for the first time in 2015, where we also collected money for roterkeil.net. There was a report about the Rennfietsen Tour and I immediately found the background of the fundraising campaign fascinating, because the donations are used to help children in this country. A year later, we took part and it was like a "flash" - the group gave us such a warm welcome, it was immediately like a family. It was clear to us that we would take part again.

What makes the Rennfietsen Tour so special for you?

On average, we are 30 to 40 people from very different fields and professions - from lawyers to pensioners. And yet cycling connects us so much that you immediately make friends with everyone. I remember my first tour through the Teutoburg Forest. I was about to give up because mountains aren't my thing. And then a helping hand came from behind. It belonged to Henri Verkampen, who wears a prosthetic arm. He pushed me on and said: "Just downshift and keep pedalling." It was that flash feeling: everyone helps each other, everyone is pursuing the same goal and you immediately feel like you belong.

You are no longer active on the bike, but in the organisation team.

I had an operation on my intervertebral disc two years ago. Since then, the four days and 600 kilometres in the saddle of the Rennfietsen Tour are no longer so easy for me. But because I feel so connected to the community, I asked if I could take on another job. Since then, I've been involved in catering during the four days and organising the run-up to the event.

What exactly are your tasks in the organisation team during the tour?

Last year I was on the road in the catering vehicle. We always have to arrive a few minutes before the team and set up the station. This means that we take care of breakfast, catering during the tour and dinner. But most of it is already super organised and delegated in advance by the organising team around Joachim Wechner. Basically, I always enjoy the tour. It's great that the tour takes you to places that you wouldn't otherwise have got to know. Even though I'm no longer on the tour, it's important to me that I continue to collect donations. My aim is to collect a little more every year.

When you look back on your years on the bike, do you have any real moments of happiness or goosebumps?

The start at Münster/Osnabrück Airport is always an absolute highlight: when the jukebox is set up and counted down, your hair stands on end. You can really feel how the energy is carried outwards. And, of course, the moments when Joachim announces the interim donation status while sitting together in the evening. We are extremely happy that they are rising every day - it's just great. It's also a real feeling of happiness when we ride over the cobblestones of Prinzipalmarkt in Münster on the last day of the tour, arrive at the finish line and realise what we've "tortured" ourselves for.

Last year, for the first time, there was a rally with a shared overnight stay. This is also planned for this year. Why?

The decision to organise a rally, i.e. a fixed overnight location from which the day tours are driven, was a big plus point. It now makes it possible for riders who are not yet physically up to the full four days and 600 kilometres or who have to work on Fridays, for example, to only take part on a day-by-day basis. This lowers the inhibition threshold and brings new participants into our community, who can first feel out whether they are up to it and whether the Rennfietsen Tour is something for them.

In short: What makes the Rennfietsen-Tour special for you?

For me, it's the fact that you can combine your hobby with a good cause and cultivate the community at the same time. Of course, this also includes Münsterland e.V. and Westenergie. Without them and the large organisation team around Joachim Wechner, none of this would be possible.