“Better and better every day!” With this motto, Francisco Lopez — better known as Fijn — motivates himself each day as he lives with Parkinson’s disease, now for 26 years. On Sunday, November 2, he will run his final race. Come cheer him on and support this great cause, aimed at improving care for those living with Parkinson’s.
During the Lotto Cambiando Bida Run 2025, funds will be raised through the GOFUNDME page. Follow the instructions on the page to make your donation. All proceeds will go toward purchasing a special bed for Parkinson’s patients.
Who is Fijn Lopez?
A proud Aruban, Fijn lived and worked for over 35 years in St. Maarten, including as a teacher at Milton Peters College. After a renovation of the classroom where he taught, a toxic glue was used. Inhaling the fumes led to the first symptoms of Parkinson’s. He was 48 at the time.
Even though the illness completely changed his life, Fijn remained remarkably positive. He has been — and continues to be — an inspiration to many in St. Maarten and Aruba. With love and optimism, he guided young people and raised awareness through numerous health and sports campaigns and events with the SXM Road Runners. Fijn himself was also a dedicated athlete.
In 2017, he returned to Aruba to be closer to his family and now lives at Maris Stella (SABA). His nephew Jeff Lopez and niece Mandy Lopez took the initiative to participate in the Lotto Cambiando Bida Run 2025 together with their uncle. This gives Fijn the joy of once again experiencing the thrill of a sporting event. His daughter Nathalia Lopez decided to combine this with a charitable cause that will help not only her father but also other patients battling Parkinson’s.
Come cheer for Fijn Lopez in his final race on Sunday, November 2. The 10KM route starts at 6:00 AM from Centro Deportivo Betico Croes in St. Cruz. His family would greatly appreciate if people join in to support Fijn along the final stretch, ending at the Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadium (Entertainment Center Dakota).
A limited number of T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the Entertainment Center Dakota or before the race via this Google Forms link: https://forms.gle/4FUaFQJ6jXx2TYmY8
You can also make a donation on the GOFUNDME page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/better-and-better-for-mr-fijn-lopez
On behalf of Fijn and the Lopez family:
“Let’s get better and better every day” — and together, let’s contribute to better care for Parkinson’s patients!
