23 March 2026
International Year of Volunteers 2026: the power of taking action
The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteers. For Support Casper, this is the perfect opportunity to recognise the enormous impact of the people who are indispensable to our mission: improving survival for people with pancreatic cancer.
Year of the Volunteer
In the Netherlands, the International Year of Volunteers celebrates the power of taking action. It honours everyone who gives their time to help others and works towards a future in which volunteering remains a lasting force for good.
Why volunteers are indispensable for Support Casper
Volunteers are the beating heart of our foundation. Every year we organise events such as Tour de Pancreas and our Golf Day, and their commitment is invaluable. We also attend fundraisers organised by supporters, where volunteers provide essential help. Their varied work includes supporting sporting events, staffing information stands, helping with collections and providing administrative support behind the scenes.
Our volunteers share their stories
Our volunteers are deeply committed, and we regard them as ambassadors for our foundation. Lieke de Leeuw is one of them. Lieke says: “In March 2019, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was the start of an intensive course of treatment that ultimately included surgery. I realise how fortunate I am to be doing so well now. I want to help make the research carried out by Casper van Eijck’s team possible, so that more people can have a better prognosis after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. In addition to raising money by knitting socks, I mainly volunteer at sporting events such as the annual Vitesse collection. It would be wonderful if I were no longer the exception.”
Peter Paulides is another highly committed volunteer. Peter says: “I have volunteered with Support Casper since 2022. After my younger sister Lenneke died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 55, I decided to give my time to Support Casper. I have helped at various events and, in September 2026, I will join Tour de Pancreas for the third time. It is inspiring to see research and new treatments producing increasingly promising results. The prospect of better survival and quality of life motivates me to support Support Casper. The friendly atmosphere within the team makes volunteering even more rewarding.”
Together we make the difference
Volunteering for a charity is more than simply lending a hand. At Support Casper, it means actively contributing to innovative treatments for pancreatic cancer. Although our volunteer team is currently well staffed, we regularly need people with particular skills for our events. We share new volunteering opportunities through our social media channels.
Would you like to experience the power of taking action? Start your own fundraiser through our website.
To all our volunteers: thank you. Your time, dedication and energy make a difference every day.