The Panamericana 100 Project: "Race against ALS"

From road trip dream to 100-day challenge

How did the idea for the Pan-American Highway come about?

Jan and I have known each other for about 15 years; we were colleagues and went on many road trips together. About two years ago, we discovered on vacation that we shared the same dream: to drive the Pan-American Highway. It quickly became clear – if we were going to do it, we'd do it together.

Why did you choose 100 days?

Many people complete the journey in six to twelve months. We deliberately wanted an additional challenge. When we start in Ushuaia, the countdown begins – 100 days to Alaska. Everything that happens along the way has to be dealt with within that timeframe.

"The 100 days are an absolute priority – that's exactly what makes the story exciting."

Adventures with responsibility

Why are you combining the trip with a social purpose?

My mother-in-law died of ALS. The disease is still considered incurable. We want to raise awareness and collect donations for research. Being able to afford a trip like this is a privilege – and we wanted to give something back.

Overlanding, setup and freedom

Why own a vehicle and a rooftop tent?

Time is our limiting factor. Buying or selling a vehicle locally would have been too much hassle. With our own setup, we know every detail. The rooftop tent gives us maximum freedom – we decide where to sleep each day. We chose the Themis hard-shell rooftop tent because of its very quick setup in under 3 minutes and its robust construction.

How do you plan your daily routine while traveling?

At most one to two days in advance. Weather, road closures, or spontaneous encounters can't be planned far in advance. It's precisely this flexibility that makes overlanding so appealing to us.

After the trip – and then what?

You've both quit your jobs. What comes next?

We're deliberately leaving that open. I won't sign a new contract before I leave. The journey will change us – and then we'll make decisions.