Cancer in itself is one of the most serious diseases. Only it gets worse when a young child gets cancer. In the talk show Humberto, Jeroen talks about his son Kasper. Sadly, he lost him to cancer at the age of 4. The period before his death was very difficult, but then Jeroen discovered a good source of energy: running. And he still does that now, but partly for donations to the Princess Maxima Center. And that has already generated more than a million. Wow!
Jeroen lost his 4-year-old son to cancer
For parents it is the worst nightmare to lose their child. Unfortunately, it does happen sometimes, for example when someone contracts the incurable disease cancer. For example, Jeroen lost his son Kasper to cancer at the age of 4. Shit! Jeroen’s son had a brain tumor of more than 8 cm, which made it very malignant. Kasper was only just one year old, but was already taking chemotherapy. As a result, he needed extra attention from his parents. That was certainly not an easy period, says father Jeroen in the talk show Humberto.
It took a lot of energy and strength. That is why Jeroen, on the advice of the Princess Maxima Center, started looking for a hobby. That was the moment he started running. A hobby that would eventually grow into something much bigger. He doesn’t just decide to run. He now runs partly for donations to the Princess Maxima Center.
Running for donations
At the table with presenter Humberto Tan, Jeroen explains that his donations have already raised more than one million euros. Wow! Although Jeroen does not run purely for the donations, he says again. “It also gives me strength and a good feeling,” he says. Almost every day he runs with someone else: this could be in Maastricht or on Terschelling. And sometimes it also seems as if Jeroen is running with his son Kasper. Wait, huh? At such a moment Jeroen feels him “intensely”. Then, for example, he smells something familiar or hears Kasper’s favorite song. “When I walk by myself, he actually walks next to me,” he says. Aww…
After the death of his son, Jeroen wanted to do something. He needed that. That’s why he started running for charity. To achieve this, he has been running 10 kilometers every day since March last year. His campaign will now last more than a month and he hopes to raise a lot of money. “I will do everything I can to make that amount as high as possible,” said Jeroen. The money is intended for research into childhood cancer, which is something they are seriously working on at the Princess Maxima Center. In this way they hope to one day eliminate the problem of childhood cancer.
Tears at the table with ‘Humberto’
At the table, talk show guests become emotional about Jeroen’s story. A film about Kasper in particular touches Humberto and Erik van Looy, who we mainly know from the Belgian version of De Slimste Mens. “You don’t want this for a child,” Humberto says with emotion. It also causes tears for Jeroen himself, who has continuously remained strong. “I cry too, you know. I cry every day,” he says. “I cry with sadness, but I also cry with happiness. I am so grateful and happy that I got to know him.” Although luck always has the upper hand. “In the end, happiness always wins over sadness,” says Jeroen.
Would you also like to donate to Jeroen’s campaign for the Princess Maxima Center? You can donate here. On March 16, 2024, Jeroen will participate in the 538 MORNING RUN in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. He eventually ends his long sponsored run on Texel, where he has fond memories with Kasper and his family.
Kasper 💔😢 #humberto
— Critic Primus (@CriticusP) February 15, 2024
What a beautiful man. What an intense story and what a brave dad. #Kasper #Humberto #Cancer
Now #metabolicdiseases still people 🙏🏻❣️
— Suzanne van der Laan 🌱 (@laan_suzanne) February 15, 2024
I don’t understand that #Kasper isn’t trending yet! His father was so combative #Humberto. 💪🏼 In any case, I watched with tears. https://t.co/oL26Ic3VKR
— Natascha Wingelaar (@WingelaarN) February 15, 2024
