Meet Hanneke Elemans – researcher in the Knipscheer Group at the Hubrecht Institute and part of Oncode team 11 – who will be hiking up the iconic Alpe d’Huez this June, powered by personal motivation and scientific curiosity.

What personally motivates you to take part in this event?
Initially, my motivation came from my research, which is closely connected to cancer. But there’s also a personal side to it. During one of the population screenings here in the Netherlands, my dad tested positive for cancer. It was a strange and emotional time for our family. Thankfully, the cancer was caught early, and after an intense surgery and recovery period, he has now fully recovered. That experience made everything feel very real and gave me even more reason to join.

What does “Giving up is not an option” mean to you?
To me, it means that we still have a long way to go. We've already made huge progress in cancer research, but there’s so much more to uncover. That’s why we must keep going and keep raising funds—because research truly matters. Take cancer screenings, for example: thanks to research, we know that early detection increases the chances of survival significantly. That’s why screenings for breast, cervical, and bowel cancer exist today. It’s a very practical outcome of research, and it saves lives. That’s exactly why giving up is not an option.

How are you preparing—and has there been a moment in this journey that stood out to you?
My training mostly involves long walks—on the treadmill with an incline and also on the stairmaster at the gym. In April, I went hiking in Austria with my boyfriend, which was great preparation (and a lot more fun than the treadmill!).
One moment that really stuck with me was when we organised a fundraising market with our Oncode Institute team. We asked our colleagues to donate items like clothes and books to sell—and I was overwhelmed by the amount and quality of the items we received. It made me feel incredibly supported and grateful for the team spirit at our institute.

Why are you committed to cancer research?
My own research focuses on the fundamental question of how genome replication happens and how the genome stays intact. Genome maintenance still holds many secrets, and the more we understand it, the better we’ll be able to explain how cancer develops—and eventually, how we might prevent or cure it. That fundamental curiosity drives me every day in the lab.

What do you hope people will take away from your climb?
That together, we can make a real difference. With so many people climbing, we’re not only raising a significant amount of money—we’re also raising awareness. Both are essential to keep cancer research moving forward.

Stay tuned for more updates as 18 Oncode Institute teams participate in this year’s Alpe d’HuZes. Also, follow our LinkedIn page, where we’ll share frequent updates.