Se-Anne Rall|Published
When Jason van’t Slot was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just eight months old, his parents were told he might live only to the age of 10.
Rather than allowing that prognosis to define their son’s future, they raised him to believe his condition should never determine what he could achieve.
Now 31, van’t Slot has completed the Cape Epic, ridden multiple Cape Town Cycle Tours in under three hours, set a cystic fibrosis Everesting record and qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Japan.
His journey is the focus of Breaths of Hope, a documentary screening at Active Hobo on October 20.
The film forms part of a campaign by Breathtaking Fundraising NPC to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis and funds to support people living with the condition.
Managing cystic fibrosis on the bike
For van’t Slot, endurance cycling requires more than physical preparation. Managing cystic fibrosis also means paying close attention to hydration and sodium loss, particularly during long rides and in hot conditions.
Cystic fibrosis affects the movement of salt and water in the body, making electrolyte replacement an important consideration for him as an endurance athlete.
“One of the biggest challenges for me as an athlete with cystic fibrosis is hydration,” van’t Slot said.
“On long rides, particularly in the heat, I can lose large amounts of sodium very quickly if I don't replace it. Simply drinking water isn't enough, so I have to think carefully about replacing both fluids and electrolytes.”
While preparing for his Everesting record attempt, van’t Slot worked with a dietitian and underwent sweat testing to better understand his individual sodium losses during training.
He said hydration had become a key part of his routine, alongside balancing the demands of endurance training and managing his health.
“REVIVE has become an important part of my routine because it takes some of the guesswork out of replacing the electrolytes I lose through training,” he said.
“When you're waking up at 4am to train before work, then balancing a full workday, strength training and the ongoing management of cystic fibrosis and insulin-dependent diabetes, recovery becomes just as important as the training itself.”
The treatment that changed everything
While cycling has become a significant part of van’t Slot’s story, one of its most pivotal moments came in 2023, when he gained access to CFTR-modulator treatment with support from Breathtaking Fundraising NPC.
Before receiving the medication, managing cystic fibrosis involved taking up to 40 pills a day, daily nebulising and physiotherapy, as well as regular hospital admissions and intravenous antibiotics.
Then came an experience he says changed his understanding of what life could feel like.
About 20 hours after taking his first dose of the new medication, van’t Slot experienced what he described as an unrestricted breath — something he had not known in 28 years.
“It felt like breathing crisp, fresh air for the very first time. The hypothetical chains around my chest broke and the weight lifted,” he recalled.
“For the first time, I wasn't asking, ‘What can I achieve despite CF?’ I was asking, ‘What is my true potential?’”
That shift in perspective became a defining moment in his journey.
From Cape Town to the world championships
Van’t Slot’s determination has since taken him to the international cycling stage.
He qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Japan after finishing in the top 1.5% of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. At the championships, he finished as the second-highest-placed South African.
He described competing at the event as a privilege, acknowledging the support that helped make the experience possible.
His achievements, however, are about more than personal milestones.
Through Breaths of Hope, van’t Slot hopes to draw attention to the challenges faced by people living with cystic fibrosis and the difference access to appropriate treatment can make.
“This isn't just about racing a bike,” he said.
“I want people to understand how life-changing access to medication can be. I hope my journey shows that cystic fibrosis doesn't define a person's potential.”
A story of hope and possibility
REVIVE chief executive Mark Myerson said supporting van’t Slot was a natural fit for the brand, given the role hydration plays in his training.
“Jason’s story is an extraordinary example of what can happen when determination, the right support and access to treatment come together,” Myerson said.
“What really resonated with us is that he hasn’t allowed cystic fibrosis to define what he believes is possible for himself.”
Myerson said the partnership extended beyond the brand’s connection to hydration, adding that the company was proud to support van’t Slot and the purpose behind his journey.
For van’t Slot, the message at the heart of Breaths of Hope is clear: a diagnosis does not have to dictate a person's ambitions, and access to treatment can open up possibilities that once seemed out of reach.
Breaths of Hope screens at Active Hobo in Westlake, Cape Town on October 20 at 6pm. Tickets are available at Quicket.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL