The Salem Foundation in Ermelo has loaned the ‘Bart Overwint’ Foundation an electric wheelchair bicycle. On Wednesday 14 September, the vehicle was officially handed over to Bart van Loo and his mother Anita at the location at Wilhelminalaan 18.
This is the message from the board of the ‘Bart Overwint’ Foundation.
By bike
Last week the wheelchair cargo bike was picked up in Haarlem, so that Bart and his mother could come and cycle to the place for the official moment. In the presence of the board members of the Salem Foundation; Willem Veldhuizen and Peggy Beekhuis-Balkema with partner, the official handover took place.
Wish
Jan Kraaij had previously indicated that he wanted to sponsor an Ermelo goal on behalf of Stichting Dorpsgolf Ermelo. He learned of ‘Bart Overwint’ and the wish of this Foundation for an electric roller locker bicycle. He then brought the board of the ‘Bart Overwint’ Foundation into contact with the Salem Foundation. He decided to loan an electric wheelchair bicycle to Bart and his mother for as long as they can and want to use it.
‘Thank you!’
“A special moment”, the board of the Foundation ‘Bart Overwint’ called the official presentation. “The electric roller locker bike has made the world of Bart and his parents a lot bigger again. For example, they not only move by walking with the wheelchair and by driving the new wheelchair bus, but they can now also enjoy cycling everywhere. Last Saturday, on the bench in the box, a niece and nephew cycled from Putten to a family party in Harderwijk. With daddy behind the wheel, what a party it was! We are so proud of Ermelo, of the Salem Foundation and all donors and sponsors of the ‘Bart Overwint’ Foundation, who make Bart’s life so livable and pleasant. Thank you!
Over Bart
Bart who was born on January 6, 2017 made such a good start. But less than two months before his fourth birthday, he became seriously ill with Meningococcal type W sepsis; with far-reaching consequences. Most people have heard of Meningococci that cause meningitis; of blood poisoning and its consequences, however, is much less. “Sepsis is another word for blood poisoning and Meningococci is a bacteria,” mother Anita said in January this year. “Due to this blood poisoning, a lot of damage has been done to and in Bart’s body.”
Several amputations were required. “Bart’s left hand, for example, was amputated, which turned completely black. Bart is missing the upper 2 phalanges of his right hand of the 4 fingers and the upper phalanx of his thumb. Amputations have already been performed on his feet, 2 toes completely on the left and a part of the other 3 toes and on his right foot he still has a part of 2 toes left. In addition, there was so much damage to the bone of his right foot that they also had to amputate it to 15 centimeters below the knee. Part of his calf muscles also died from the bacteria and they therefore had to remove them.
In addition, Bart has needed several skin grafts, and these will also be needed more often in the future because the skin cannot grow for a long time and the scars that he has left from the bacteria do not grow well. You can’t keep wearing this yourself, said Arie van Buuren. Together with Bart’s close family and friends, he founded the ‘Bart Overwint’ Foundation, which wants to help us as a family with the financial worries that we have incurred as a result of Bart’s illness.” Click here for the full article.
Do you want to become a friend of Bart?
Donate €50 annually, then you are a friend of Bart and you will receive a nice card every year.
Do you want to give more? Which can. To become Bart’s best friend, you donate €100 per year. Then Bart would like to invite you for a visit, so that you can meet him too.