Make-a-Wish fulfills Lance Alleweireld’s dream on Thursday 22 June in Nieuwkerke
Tom Boonen will fulfill the wish of Lance Alleweireld with the help from Club Superstage and the Make a Wish Foundation. Alleweireld, who hails from Heuvelland, will join Boonen on
Thursday 22 June and will take a ride aboard a Porsche 997 GT3 at the shakedown in Nieuwkerke.
Lance Alleweireld suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a hereditary muscle disease that affects and weakens the muscles, leaving him confined to a wheelchair.
Tom Boonen is not on the start list of the Ardeca Ypres Rally this year, but the cycling legend will be in action at the Clarebout Potatoes Shakedown in Nieuwkerke on Thursday evening 22 June. Not with his Skoda Fabia, but with a Porsche 997 GT3, a car made available by Christ Vandamme, owner of A&D Trucks and Trailers from Izegem.
“When I was asked to make my Porsche available, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I’m happy to participate in this project for a good cause. By the way, we’re going to pick up Tom at home in Balen by helicopter,” Vandamme, who bought the Porsche 2.5 years ago, but not yet driven it in competition. “No, I mainly use the car to open the track as a saftey car. I had the pleasure of doing that for the past two years during the WRC rounds in Ypres. An incredible experience!”
It will also be a first for Tom Boonen, as he has never driven in Ypres and never has driven a Porsche on rally trials. “I am curious about the behavior of the 997 GT3 on a narrow rally track, but also about the shakedown test, because I have never driven in Ypres. It will be an exciting introduction,” says Tom Boonen who has made his stamp on rallying this season.
It will be a dream come true for Lance Alleweireld, as he can join the Porsche driven by Tom Boonen. Lance enjoys life to the fullest and was proclaimed the “Krak van Heuvelland” by the Krant van West-Vlaanderen.
“In 2022 I participated in the Roeseltriathlon, together with my former teacher Glenn Verholle. He pulled my kayak while swimming, then I was lifted out of the kayak by the fire brigade with a crane and put on the tandem and finally hot Glenn pushed me into my wheelchair while running. I am also organizing the “Run for Lance”, a running race for charity, on October 7 in Wulvergem. It is the second edition. Last time there were more than a hundred participants,” says the 18 year old student, who develops flyers and posters for events at school as a hobby.
Furthermore, Lance is a super fan of Thierry Neuville and he does not miss a single edition of the Ypres Rally. That is why it is his big dream to drive a rally car and that dream comes true on the shakedown. While Lance’s parents, Xavier and Virginie, also get a tour behind the scenes at Club Superstage with their son, Lance Alleweireld is already looking forward to this adventure. “Tom Boonen can definitely accelerate on the shakedown. I want to feel what the Porsche can do. It’s my favorite car!”
