Arre (24) is walking for his sister Juul: ‘Wants to continue spreading her love’
“Spread the love,” it says on his T-shirt. That is in the handwriting of Juul van den Boogaard, who took her own life in November last year. Her 24-year-old brother Arre is walking the Four Days Marches for her, together with his friends Sjuul, Tycho, and Stijn. “Team JUUL must become big,” he adds.
With their participation, they also want to draw attention to mental health, including by raising money for the Mind foundation. Arre: “With every step we take, we want to continue spreading her love.”
The friends are walking the 50 kilometers. That went “pretty smoothly” on Tuesday, says Arre. Still, it got a bit heavy at the end. When NU.nl calls him, he wants to go to the aid station to have his feet taped. “We still have three days to go, but that will be fine,” he says.
It helps that people encourage them along the way. Several walkers know Juul’s story or notice the T-shirt that the friends are wearing. On Tuesday, they received a comment about it several times. Arre misses his “dearest Juul.” “I want to finish the Four Days Marches for her. With that in mind, it should definitely work out.”
Koos (49) is walking because of poverty in Lelystad: ‘Feel responsible’
“I just finished,” says Koos van der Kruijt on the phone. He still sounds a bit out of breath. The 49-year-old resident of Lelystad walks 50 kilometers for four days and is participating for the second time this year. He doesn’t have any blisters (yet), although he does feel his legs. “But it went smoother than I expected.”
Koos lives in the Zuiderzeewijk. “One of the poorest neighborhoods in the Netherlands.” On behalf of Jediah Lelystad, a foundation that provides warm meals for the residents of the neighborhood, he is raising money. “I think this is a good cause to draw attention to,” he says. “People who are poor cannot often eat out, but now they can.” It is a group that is often forgotten, he sees. During the meals, they are seen and can catch their breath for a moment. Koos is a volunteer there himself. “I feel responsible. I am always looking for something in the neighborhood where I can have an influence myself.”
Edgar (53) is walking with his son for the Brain Foundation
For the 53-year-old Edgar Politiek and his 15-year-old son Reece, there is a personal reason: Edgar suffered a stroke a few years ago.
Last year he was able to participate again for the first time and decided to raise money for the Brain Foundation. When the local newspaper interviewed him about it, Reece promised that he would also walk this year. “Then it was in black and white,” Edgar laughs. Reece is a minor and therefore only has to walk 30 kilometers, but that would mean that Edgar has to join as a supervisor. You don’t receive a cross as a walker for that. “Reece wanted me to get a cross too, so now we are walking the 40 kilometers together.” He is proud of his son and has no doubt that he will finish the Four Days Marches. “The way he walked today, it should definitely be okay.”
Due to his stroke, Edgar has ABI (acquired brain injury), of which he still experiences the consequences every day. For example, he has great difficulty processing stimuli. A considerable challenge with the loud music and crowds during the Four Days Marches. “I’m running on adrenaline this week, next week I expect the backlash.”
