Introduction: A Mission on Two Wheels
On October 11, 2025—European Donation Day, organised yearly by the the Council of Europe—the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension launched “Wheels of Hope,” an extraordinary campaign that combines athletic endurance, culinary culture, and life-saving advocacy. Czech chef and athlete Lukáš Jakovec embarked on a 9-month cycling journey from Udine, Italy, to Prague, Czech Republic, crossing 9 countries to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation.
Meet Lukáš Jakovec: Chef and Athlete
Lukáš brings a unique profile to this advocacy mission. He’s a multi-skilled culinary professional, tennis coach for kids, tournament referee, professional bowling player, and passionate endurance cyclist. He speaks Czech, Polish, English, and is learning Italian—skills that will serve him well as he crosses linguistic and cultural borders. But Lukáš’s connection to this cause runs deeper than his athletic abilities. In his early 20s, he faced a life-threatening heart condition and was told he might need a heart transplant if the disease progressed. Fortunately, his condition was successfully treated, but the experience gave him profound empathy for those facing organ transplantation. He understands firsthand the fear and hope that comes with medical uncertainty.
The Urgent Reality Behind the Campaign
The statistics are sobering: over 150,000 solid organ transplants are performed worldwide annually, yet this represents less than 10% of the global need. Thousands of people die every year waiting for a transplant. § Behind every statistic is a person waiting for a second chance at life. For the pulmonary hypertension community, organ donation is especially critical. Despite tremendous medical progress, lung transplantation remains the primary therapeutic option for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients who don’t respond to optimized medical therapy.
§ International Report on Organ Donation and Transplant Activities, Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, December 2024, available at this link
The Power of Universal Languages: Sport and Food
The Wheels of Hope campaign leverages two powerful ways to cross cultural boundaries: sport and food. Every culture celebrates through food, and sport speaks a universal language. Both bring people together naturally, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue about organ donation. As Lukáš travels through France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany before reaching Prague, he’ll use these universal languages to connect with people, share meals, and open conversations that could save lives.
Smart Solutions for a Cycling Journey
When you’re traveling nine months by bicycle, every gram counts. The campaign team faced a challenge: how do you carry information materials across nine countries when space is limited? And in how many languages should they be printed? The solution: credit card-sized mini flyers with a QR code. Each card links to the Pulmonary Hypertension Knowledge Sharing Platform organ donation campaign page, featuring instant translation in 40 languages. One scan provides all the information about organ donation and transplantation in the reader’s own language.
A Logo That Tells a Story
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. 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 symbols of organ donation 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 logo was designed by Giacinta Notarbartolo di Sciara, a Milan-based graphic designer, but it was the fruit of a collaborative discussion with our Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension members at our weekly Thursday 10 o’clock meetings. Every element has a special meaning for us.
The Campaign Ambassador: Pisana Ferrari
Pisana Ferrari, Secretary General of the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension, serves as campaign ambassador. A former pulmonary arterial hypertension patient from 1988-2002, she received a double lung transplant in 2002 and has been a patient advocate for pulmonary hypertension and organ donation since 2001. Her 23 extra years of life—and counting—demonstrate the profound impact of organ donation.
A Momentous Launch Day
The October 11 launch event in Udine brought together remarkable support from local leadership. Distinguished guests included Prof. Alberto Felice De Toni, Mayor of Udine (where Lukáš has lived and worked for the past eighteen months), Dr. Roberto Peressutti, Director of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Transplant Coordination Center, Cassacco Mayor Ornella Baiutti, Colloredo di Montalbano Mayor Renza Baiutti, and Barbara Jannis, Councillor for Commerce, Tourism and Services in Tricesimo. The representatives of the local organ donor association ADO Luigi Bulfon and blood donor association AFDS Claudio Geretti were also present.
Among the friends and supporters was Nicholas Favalli, a young athlete from a nearby town who recently completed an inspiring 10,000 km cycling journey to Europe’s northernmost point and back. At noon, after a toast to the journey ahead, Lukáš departed to cheers and applause from all gathered.
Join the Movement
“Wheels of Hope” uniquely combines athletic achievement, culinary culture exploration, life-saving advocacy, authentic content creation throughout the 9-month journey, and pan-European awareness campaign. The journey can be followed on Instagram at @Wild.lukaaas and @ph_ksp and and Lukas Jakocev and Pulmonary Hypertension Knowledge Sharing Platform on LinkedIn. Supporters are encouraged to like, comment, share posts, and use the hashtags #WheelsOfHope #OrganDonation #OrganTransplant #EuropeanDonationDay #TransplantSavesLives #PulmonaryHypertension #AllianceForPH.
These are Lukáš LinkedIn (left) and Instagram pages (right).
Support Lukáš on His Journey
True to his traveling spirit, Lukáš will spend these nine months living simply—cycling from dawn to dusk, fishing whenever rivers allow, and trading his skills (cooking, repairs, manual work) for meals and shelter. It’s authentic travel that creates real connections. While this journey is powered by determination rather than deep pockets, supporters can contribute toward basic supplies. He estimates needing approximately €10 per day for basic food supplies—roughly €2,700 for the entire journey.
We invite friends and supporters to help Lukáš on this mission:
- €10 sponsors one day of food
- €70 sponsors one week
- €300 sponsors one month
- Any amount helps keep him pedaling and spreading the message of hope
Your contribution doesn’t just feed a cyclist—it fuels a movement. Every euro donated helps Lukáš continue his journey, reach more people, spark more conversations, and ultimately save more lives through organ donation awareness.
- Lukáš Jakovec
- BAN LT86 3250 0314 1669 5014
- BIC / SWIFT kód
- Revolut21
- Revolut Bank UAB
- Konstitucijos ave. 21B, 08130
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Korespondent BIC
- CHASDEFX
The Bottom Line
Real people are waiting for transplants. One donor can save eight lives. Your share of this story could inspire someone to register as a donor. The “Wheels of Hope” campaign proves that advocacy doesn’t have to be somber—it can be hopeful, dynamic, and full of life. As Lukáš pedals across Europe he carries more than campaign materials—he carries hope. And with every kilometer traveled, every meal shared, and every conversation sparked, that hope multiplies.
Whether you follow his journey on social media, share his message, or contribute to keeping him on the road, you become part of this life-saving mission. Together, we can turn wheels into hope, and hope into lives saved.
Behind the Journey: The Art of Bikepacking
Preparing for a nine-month cycling journey across Europe is a masterclass in minimalism. When your entire world must fit into three bicycle panniers, every single item requires careful consideration. Laid out before departure, Lukáš’s gear tells the story of meticulous preparation: a lightweight tent and sleeping bag for hundreds of campsites, cycling clothing for varying weather from Mediterranean warmth to Alpine cold, a fishing rod for supplementing meals, cooking equipment, bike repair tools and spare parts, a solar charger for keeping devices powered, first aid kit, energy bars, and those 500 campaign flyers.
The challenge? Fitting all of this into just three waterproof panniers. Looking at the extensive spread of equipment, it seems almost impossible. Yet through careful rolling, compression, and strategic placement, everything finds its place. The heaviest items go low for stability, frequently needed items stay accessible, and weight distributes evenly across the bike.