Aphasia is a language disorder that occurs after brain injury that makes communication difficult. Aphasia expresses themselves in a different way: people can experience problems writing or reading, but also with speaking or understanding sentences.
“I HAPER between the sentences,” says René van Dijk. Van Dijk had a cerebral infarction for a few years that he left aphasia. “I want to say it, but it doesn’t work out. We want to understand that.”
Marita Tessin has received aphasia just like René after a cerebral infarction. She does not speak in sentences, but with loose words or short sentences. “It’s a small handicap,” she says optimistically. “We are still talking, there are also people who can no longer do that at all.”
Tessin also wants more understanding of society for the language problems that they suffer from. “Communication is so important,” adds Van Dijk. “You only know that when you have aphasia. Then words often fall short.”
That is why Tessin came up with a playful action: a bike ride from their province of Friesland through the Netherlands. She wanted a buddy there and that became Van Dijk.
During their journey they visit different institutions that somehow have an eye for the limitation.
This morning the duo started the bike ride at De Wachtershof in Zuidlaren. People with disabilities in communication can spend a pleasant holiday there. Their journey through Drenthe ended in Hoogeveen. A stop is inserted at the Weidesteyn nursing home. There is a special department for people with non -congenital brain injury.
Speech therapist Marije van der Staaij is waiting for the duo. “I think it’s fantastic that they do this. You can imagine that organizing such a bike ride is quite difficult if you have trouble speaking. That’s why this initiative is really great.”
With their bike ride, Marita and René want to raise 5000 euros for more research into aphasia. They also hope that the bike ride contributes to more awareness for limitation.
Moreover, the feeling of counting in society, despite their disability, is very important for the duo. “We are also important. We are not the disability,” Tessin concludes.
They hope to arrive on Friday in the Aphasia Center in Amsterdam, where the check will be handed over.