Thank you, IPPC Secretariat and IPPC Community!

After one year on the road to cycle around the world, disaster struck on May 12 in Canada. While standing on the bike lane of a country road, a car smashed into me with a speed in excess of a 100 km/h, and broke 10 ribs, my right shoulder blade, my right collarbone, and caused a pneumothorax on both sides besides multiple flesh and muscle wounds. I was closer to death than to life.

Now after almost five weeks, I am up and moving again, my spirits are back and in a positive setting, and I am ready to fly back to Finland to recuperate completely before I return to Canada in May 2024 to continue my journey around the world. My astonishing speedy recovery was, to a large degree, triggered by the generous support of my Canadian plant health friends who visited me on a daily basis in the hospital and cared for me when I left it.

The countless messages I received from friends and former IPPC colleagues around the world raised my spirits and my resolve to overcome my injuries. Without the shadow of a doubt, the sympathy and wishes I received from the IPPC community aided me in my healing process and recovery. For that I am eternally grateful to the IPPC Secretariat and the IPPC community. Thank You!