IronMen4Orphans
On May 18th, 2025, Bas, Jelle, and Steven completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence in France to raise funds for Future4Orphans. Together, they provided eight months of education for 130 orphans in Afghanistan.
What We Achieved Together
This wasn’t just a race. It was three friends uniting for a cause they deeply believe in — education for orphaned children in Afghanistan. On May 18th, 2025, they took on the demanding IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence, swimming 1.9 km, cycling 90 km, and running 21.1 km. Every kilometre brought them closer to their fundraising goal, and in the end, their efforts funded eight consecutive months of education for 130 children.
IRONMAN 70.3
Funded 8 consecutive months of education for 130 orphans
Meet Bas Snoeren
Chloe's race in Ireland sparked Bas's desire to contribute to the ambassadorship. Inspired by her efforts, he decided to find his own way to make a difference, choosing a sporting challenge alongside his friends. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to support such a worthy and genuine cause, fueled by his conviction that education can create a brighter future for orphaned children in Afghanistan.
Bas shares, "I'm supporting Future4Orphans because it's run by individuals truly committed to maximizing the impact of every donation. It's crucial for children who have experienced adversity, and our contributions can genuinely empower them to lead meaningful lives and embrace a future filled with hope. This triathlon is my way of backing Miher, Shafiq, and their families' dedication to these children. They're even traveling to Afghanistan this year to engage with them directly, and Steven will be accompanying them. I'm privileged to compete on their behalf and aspire to motivate others to contribute to this remarkable organization."
Meet Jelle Goos
Jelle has called Dublin home for the past three years, where he became close friends with Miher and Shafiq. They bonded over soccer, karting, and shared traditions like Ramadan and Iftar. Prior to Dublin, Jelle's passion for education and youth leadership led him to facilitate global volunteering projects with AIESEC. He firmly believes that education is the cornerstone of a brighter future for orphaned children in Afghanistan.
Jelle explains, "I chose Future4Orphans because it's managed by people genuinely dedicated to making every donation count. It's vital for children who've faced hardship, and our contributions can truly empower them to live fulfilling lives and embrace a hopeful future. This triathlon is my way of supporting Miher, Shafiq, and their families' commitment to these children. They're even traveling to Afghanistan this year to connect with them personally, and Steven will be joining them. I'm honored to compete for them and hope to inspire others to support this incredible organization."
Meet Steven Marsé
Steven is a firm believer that everyone deserves a fair shot, especially when it comes to education. Experiencing how unequal things can be around the world during some travels really opened Steven’s eyes. And, therefore, he’s all about helping out those who have less. That's why Steven is working to raise money for Future4Orphans, a cause super close to their heart, started by their awesome friends Miher and Shafiq. To help Afghan orphans get the education and love that they need.
Steven: “There are millions of different good causes that a person can give to. However, when I met my good friends Miher and Shafiq and their family, I was sure that Future4Orphans was the cause I was going to focus on. Their passion and never ending urge of helping others has been translated into a clear and beautiful goal: helping those who lost their parents, are growing up in Afghanistan and need support to start their lives right. By providing these orphans with education, we are all able to help with something that we experience as a given. Please help us put a smile on the faces and future of these orphans by donating. We will swim, bike and run every kilometer with them on our mind.”
There’s more than one way to make a difference.
You can host a fundraiser, share our story, volunteer your skills, or simply talk to your friends about what’s happening. Whatever your way, we’d love to have you with us.