Stefan's motivation: to see his favourite city. And once again the restored Notre Dame, which particularly interests him as an architect.

His trip was characterised by great contrasts. He spent the night in a hotel as well as in a tent. He had to cope with record-breaking heat and protect himself from rain and thunderstorms. And he had to realise: The cycling infrastructure is not as optimal everywhere as it is in the Netherlands.

Nevertheless, the solidarity within the bike scene always helped him. Although he was travelling solo, he was able to rely on the support of other cyclists and helping hands along the route, especially in France.

The fact that he is still able to get on his bike despite his progressive illness is thanks to an innovative treatment method. With deep brain stimulation, two electrodes in the brain provide significant relief from his symptoms and currently enable him to live without medication but with self-determined movement - such as cycling.

Berlin's Charité hospital is one of the leading organisations in this field. ‘It made my new life possible,’ says Stefan. Only ten percent of the Parkinson's sufferers can be helped with this relatively new treatment. A team from the Charité hospital also monitored the progress and status during the long cycle tour.

Daily exercise is also helpful. ‘Sport is the best medicine,’ says Stefan, who gave up his car eight years ago and has mainly travelled by bike every day since then. And last but not least, the iron will not to leave his fate in the hands of the disease, but to be able to cope with everyday life independently for as long as possible.

But Stefan didn't just want to overcome his own limits on his journey to Paris. He wanted to raise awareness of Parkinson's, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. And to collect donations for research.

‘What's next?’ we ask Stefan during his visit to the STEVENS headquarters on his way back home to Berlin. He would like to found an association to further promote Parkinson's research and organise a group trip from Berlin to Copenhagen. Still 700 kilometres by land. According to Stefan, Denmark is much more advanced in terms of Parkinson's research. In addition to Charité Berlin, UKSH Kiel and UKE Hamburg are also active in this field.

Anyone who would like to help Stefan and other Parkinson's sufferers can do so via Stefan's website qand financially support Parkinson's research at Charité Berlin.