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In 2016, disaster struck for the talented Belgian cyclist Stig Broeckx. Riding for the Lotto–Soudal team, he was involved in a serious crash during the Tour of Belgium. The accident left him in a coma with severe brain damage.                                                 His doctors were pessimistic, but against all odds, Stig managed to recover. Thanks to a combination of intensive rehabilitation, endless enthusiasm and dogged perseverance, he is now even back on his bike. His story — captured in his book Never say never and the film ‘De Stig’ — has since inspired countless people. Stig is now an ambassador for Maastricht University’s Brain Battle Fund.Join the Brain Battle!The Brain Battle Fund supports research on innovative treatments for severe brain injuries. The current approach still leaves too many patients with permanent brain damage. High time to develop new treatments!To raise money for this research, Stig wants to ride part of Hel van de Kempen, a cycle race that starts and finishes in his hometown of Dessel on 11 September. This is an incredibly special effort for an important cause. Will you show your support by making a donation? Or raise sponsorship money and cycle part of the way with Stig? Either way, all funds raised will go directly to the Brain Battle Fund.Saving more brain cellsThe Brain Battle Fund will use the money to purchase a new monitor, for example, enabling doctors to better monitor the activity and oxygen levels in the brains of coma patients. This way, they can adjust the treatment as needed, save more brain cells and, ultimately, help patients to recover from brain injury.“On behalf of Stig and the Brain Battle Fund, I would like to thank you for your contribution. Together we’re extending a lifeline to people with brain injuries!” —Marcel Aries, founder of the fund and intensive-care neurologist at the MUMC+ (left in photo) UM Crowd is part of University Fund Limburg/SWOL. This Fund is a recognized 'algemeen nut beogende instelling' (ANBI). This hallmark means that your donation is, in principle, tax deductable. You will receive an automatically generated e-mail with a proof of payment after your donation. Click here for more information about ANBI.