LAUNCHED OCTOBER 11, 2025
The Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension campaign for European Donation Day (EDD)
“WHEELS OF HOPE” 🚴♂️
AN UPDATE OF THE CAMPAIGN AT 31.12.2025 IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK
Follow Czech Chef and athlete Lukáš Jakovec as he pedals for our campaign at @Wild.lukaaas and on @ph_ksp (Instagram), and Lukas Jakocev and Pulmonary Hypertension Knowledge Sharing Platform (LinkedIn). Use these hashtags #WheelsOfHope #OrganDonation #OrganTransplant #PulmonaryHypertension #TransplantSavesLives
🌟 THE MISSION
On October 11 – the Council of Europe’s European Organ Donation Day 2025 – Czech chef and athlete Lukáš Jakovec began an extraordinary 9-month cycling journey from Udine (Italy) across 9 countries to his home in Prague, Czech Republic via France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands (along the coast), Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Germany.
📊 THE URGENT REALITY
- Over 150 000 solid organ transplants are performed worldwide annually.
- It is estimated that this figure represents less than 10% of the global need.
- Thousands of people die every year waiting for a transplant.
- We can all make a difference!
- One person can save 8 lives with an organ transplant.
- Behind every statistic is a person waiting for a second chance.
Source: International Report on Organ Donation and Transplant Activities, Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, December 2024, available at this link
🫁 ORGAN TRANSPLANT FOR PULMONARY HYPERTENSION
Organ donation is very relevant to our patient community! Despite the huge progresses made in the field, for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients that are refractary to optimized medical therapy lung transplantation remains, still today, the only therapeutic option.
👨🍳 MEET LUKÁŠ JAKOVEC 🚴♂️
- 🏆 Multi-skilled culinary professional
- 🎾 Tennis coach for kids, tournament referee
- 🎳 Professional bowling player
- 🚴 Passionate cyclist
- 🌍 Multi-lingual: Czech, Polish, English, learning Italian
💙 A PERSONAL CONNECTION
Lukáš understands the fear and hope of medical uncertainty firsthand. In his early 20s, he faced a life-threatening heart condition and he was told that he may need a heart transplant in later years if the disease progressed. Fortunately, his condition was successfully treated, but this experience gave him deep empathy for those facing challenging health issues and a potential organ transplant.
WHY SPORT AND FOOD?
Two powerful ways to cross cultural boundaries!
- 🍽️ Every culture celebrates through food
- 🚴 Sport speaks a universal language
- 🤝 Food and sport bring people together naturally
- 💬 Connection creates opportunity for meaningful dialogue
🌊 THE RIPPLE EFFECT
Every connection Lukáš makes extends far beyond the moment:
- ✅ Each brochure may spark life-changing discussions
- ✅ Each conversation may lead to a new donor registration
- ✅ Each social media post creates authentic engagement
💪 CAMPAIGN AMBASSADOR
Pisana Ferrari – Secretary General of the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension
- Former pulmonary arterial hypertension patient (1988-2002)
- Double lung transplant recipient (2002)
- 23 extra years of life and counting
- Patient advocate for pulmonary hypertension and organ donation and transplant since 2001
🎯 JOIN THE MOVEMENT
“Wheels of Hope” uniquely combines:
- 🏃♂️ Athletic achievement
- 👨🍳 Culinary culture exploration
- ❤️ Life-saving advocacy
- 📱 Authentic content creation throughout the 9-month journey
- 🌍 Pan-European awareness campaign
🤝 GET INVOLVED
Follow our journey:
- Read more about European Donation Day 2025 an this link
- Share the European Donation Day materials here
- Use the official Council of Europe hashtag for the campaign #europeandonationday
- Share our story on your social media
💸 SUPPORT LUKÁŠ
For the next 9 months, Lukáš will be living simply on the road—cycling, fishing when possible, and exchanging work for meals along the way. If you’d like to support “Wheels of Hope” with a donation to help cover basic supplies please contact info@allianceforph.org. Every contribution helps keep the wheels turning and the message spreading! 🚴♂️
🗺️ THE ITINERARY
Lukáš is planning a two year trip, this is the full itinerary, but our “Wheels of Hope” will cover the first nine-month journey, which will take him from Udine in Italy to Prague in the Czech Republic, passing through France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands (along the coast), Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Germany.
🖼️ CAMPAIGN PROMO IMAGE
THE CAMPAIGN LOGO
Our Wheels of Hope logo reflects the unique spirit of this campaign. While organ donation and transplantation are deeply serious topics, we wanted the visual identity to capture the youthful energy and distinctive character of our campaign ambassador, Lukas Jakovec. As both a chef and an athlete—an unusual combination—Lukáš embodies a fresh, dynamic approach to advocacy. The illustration of a cyclist-chef, with the campaign flyers and organs flowing around him, celebrates this duality while making a life-saving message feel accessible and engaging. The vibrant design reminds us that hope, life, and second chances are worth celebrating with optimism.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This campaign uniquely combines human interest, athletic achievement, culinary culture, and life-saving advocacy—creating rich, authentic content opportunities throughout the 9 month journey.
LUKAS’ JAKOVEC RESUME
