BILL Van Nierop is a man on a mission and he won’t stop until his goal his reached.
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Despite being diagnosed with a debilitating and fatal lung condition, Mr Van Nierop, 63, is defying all odds by embarking on the “Long Walk for Lungs”.
The initiative is a 15-day 697 kilometre journey across NSW to raise awareness and $100,000 for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) research.
Mr Van Nierop said it was both money and awareness be raised hand-in-hand.
“There’s a pretty big stigma attached to lung health … I think people are sometimes ashamed when they are diagnosed,” he said.
“Many others automatically hear lung disease and think it must be related to smoking.
“In my case it wasn’t, so I would really love to create awareness and get rid of that stigma.
“What people don’t realise as well is lung disease affects a huge number of people every year … the numbers are scary.”
What people don’t realise as well is lung disease affects a huge number of people every year … the numbers are scary.
- Bill Van Nierop
The Narromine resident started the walk in that town and it will finish in Forbes on September 1, with a large gala dinner planned.
Already Mr Van Nierop has raised around $70,000, with his goal $100,000.
The money will be donated to the Lung Foundation Australia, which is hugely reliant on this type of money coming in.
While the walking journey is already a huge effort, it is made more incredible due to Mr Van Nierop’s condition.
IPF is a progressive and incurable lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
“There were a couple of days last week that were really windy … those have been the hardest days so far,” Mr Van Nierop said.
“It's not an issue of getting the oxygen into the body, it’s having it be circulated around, so the wind did really knock me about a bit.
“It’s a big challenge, but I’m determined to make a difference.”
Businesses and sponsors have jumped on board along the way and residents will have a chance to donate this week.
Mr Van Nierop will spend Friday night at the Wade Hotel and Hotel Leeton, as well as Sunday at the Yanco markets speaking with people, who can donate to the cause at the same time.
“I’m looking forward to meeting people in Leeton and Griffith,” he said. “If I can start the conversation about lung health that’s great.”
