More and more evidence accumulates to show that people who have battled cancer, or who are at high risk of getting it, benefit particularly from exercise. For instance, by lowering estrogen levels, cardio is a protective factor for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. For those who have already had to fight cancer, more exercise is related to lower mortality levels, in addition to improvements in overall quality of life.
Our Mission
These findings evoke many questions: What types of exercise are beneficial? How often, how intensively, and for how long should people exercise? What about individual differences, what may cause those and how can one personalize exercise programmes accordingly? How does exercise affect the chances of developing cancer again? And how is daily life and work affected by exercise? Among others, these are the questions we aim to answer in a three-year research program.
Your mission too?
We believe that answering these questions, and developing a protocol to help people fight cancer, are extremely valuable given that cancer is such a prevalent and devastating disease. If you believe so too, you can support us in realizing this mission. We need to raise € 24.700,- in order to make this research programme a reality. We’ve got the facilities at Kassel University and Leiden University, we’ve got the background knowledge, we’ve got several experts and we’ve got a researcher passionate to make this her daily business. All we need is the money to actually execute this research, and get the knowledge into the world. Will you make this your mission too?
Who are we?
Hi all, my name is Saskia and I will be the one to make this project my daily business for the coming three years. I am currently in the final stage of my research master at Leiden University, during which I have found myself fascinated by how sports can affect cognitive performance and emotions. This has, thusfar, resulted in the publication of two blogs ("How to run away from your problems" & "Running makes you smart, period"), one journal article ("Neuromodulation of aerobic exercise--a review") and this crowdfunding project.
I am a fanatic runner as well as a frequent flyer at the gym, and I love letting others in on the joys of exercise. I am surrounded by inspiring stories of people who've battled cancer and manage to run marathons or cycle the Alpe d'HuZes, while on the other hand there are stories of extreme struggle getting back into frequent physical activity.
I would love to play a part in helping people back on their feet (or running shoes), and especially to contribute to the knowledge of why exercise is even beneficial, and where these benefits may be found.
Lorenza S. Colzato studied cognitive and clinical psychology at the University of Padova, Italy, in 1999. She then moved Leiden University where she obtained her PhD degree (2005) under the supervision of Prof. Lex van der Heijden. Since 2006 she has been an assistant professor at the Cognitive Psychology Unit of Leiden University (Cognitieve Psychologie). In 2008, she was
awarded with a NWO- Veni grant (250.000 €) to investigate the role of dopamine in cognitive control. In 2013, she won NWO- Vidi grant (800.000 €) to focus on the effects of tyrosine on cognition. Since March 2010 she has been Chief Editor of the open access journal Frontiers in Cognition. She is also a recognized Client-Centered Psychotherapist.
Armin KIbele is a professor at the University of Kassel, Institute of Sport and Sport Science. He studied Mathematics and Sport Science at the Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, where he continued to work as an assistant professor, and obtained a doctorate in Philosophy in 1995. Since 2000, he's been employed at the University of Kassel, taking on responsibilities as a professor and dean of students, amongst others.