The Dutch cardiologists will cycle from Amsterdam to Stockholm in a week, a distance of about 1700 kilometers, which is more than 200 kilometers a day. The cyclists started on Saturday August 21 in Amsterdam and hope to finish on Saturday August 28 in Stockholm. The cycling cardiologists are coached by the well-known Dutch team manager Koos Groenendaal
By cycling to the ESC, the Dutch cardiologists are raising money for 'Heart for Women', a scientific research project on women and heart diseases.
Dr Marcel Daniels, President of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology is one of the initiaters of the annual biking tour to the ESC Congress and participates in the tour to Stockholm. The bike riders are residents in cardiology, cardiovascular researchers and all memebers of the national society - and counting 6 women.
We asked Dr Daniels to tell us about the reasons for this great initative. "The aim is not only to find a cohesive factor in our society" says Dr Daniels, "but also to create awareness for topics within cardiology that are not all too often addressed and to raise money for funding of research projects on these issues".
Past years' tours to the ESC Congress in Munich and Barcelona focused on "congenital heart disease" and "sudden death victims during sporting events" respectively, and the data base registries linked to these topics.
Dr Daniels continues: "This year, we have chosen heart disease in women as our 'target'. In 2009, the Netherlands Society of Cardiology installed a working group on gender in heart disease (the President of this working group, dr. Yolande Appelman, is one of the participating cyclists) to promote awareness on the issue that heart disease is also of major concern in women, and that 1 out of every 3 women die from cardiovascular causes. Symptoms of heart disease may differ, diagnostic processes may differ, and all studies show that outcome may be different as well. Furthermore, the 
Netherlands Heart Foundation will launch their Heart for Women project this year, meaning that the topic is getting major attention within the Netherlands."
There will be a daily media-coverage on the website of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology, where everyone interested can follow the participants on a daily basis. Arrival in Stockholm is scheduled for Saturday 28 August in front of Cafe Opera during the Dutch national society's social event. Usually, about 150 members are present.
"Of course, as President of our Society I feel very much involved in this and I think it is important for our Society to have projects that combine fun, activities and cardiology to bring our members closer to each other. This is not only true for those who participate, but also for those who watch the daily updates", says Dr Daniels.
Want to support the initiative?
From August 21st to 28th you can follow the trip on the website of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology (NVVC). If you would like to support one of the Dutch cycling cardiologists, go to the website of the Nederlandse Hartstichting and make your choice.
During the Congress, all information on the cycling cardiologists will be available at the stand of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology (NVVC) in the Membership Zone.
Ambassadors
Gerdi Verbeet, Chairperson Dutch parliament
Yvonne van Gennip, Dutch Olympic skating champion
Annemarie Jorritsma, Mayor of Almere
Clémence Ross, CEO Netherlands Institute for Sports and Physical Exercise
Jet Bussemaker, former State Secretary Ministry of Health
Brigite van Haaften, politician in the Netherlands
Karla Peijs, Royal Commissioner Province of Zeeland