‘Grandpa’ Wim Wouters (94) still tears when he thinks about it: he will never be able to cycle to his beloved Efteling again. But now he also cries for another reason. He receives help from all corners of the province. There is even someone who wants to give him a mobility scooter. That does him a lot. “The Efteling keeps me alive.”
Every day he was at the gate at nine o’clock in the morning. Wim promised his wife on her deathbed that he would always go to Efteling. “That really means a lot to me.” Still, much to his chagrin, he decided to put away his electric bicycle after a series of accidents.
“People even want to involve the mayor.”
After Grandpa Wim told his story at Omroep Brabant, he was overwhelmed with reactions and help. “I love it. I can’t stop crying. I’m already starting to cry again. It’s really hard for me,” he says, sobbing. “The help comes from all sides. People even want to involve the mayor.”
There is now even hope for a solution. Eddy Fukkink from Kaatsheuvel would love to give Grandpa Wim a mobility scooter. Eddy has a company that rents and sells scooters and wheelchairs, among other things.
“He cycled past here every day. When he had some trouble walking a few years ago, I already gave him a walker. Then he could at least continue to walk around the park.”
“You only have to talk to Wim about it and the tears come to his eyes.”
“Don’t let that man languish at home.” Because that is the most important thing, says Eddy. “For years he went to the park with his wife. How sad would it be if he could no longer keep his promise to her? You just have to talk to Wim about it and tears will well up in his eyes.”
That’s why Eddy visited Grandpa Wim on Tuesday. “There I told him that he can get a mobility scooter in no time. Then I will give him a few lessons so that he can safely set off. He was very happy with that.”
“There must be a charging point in the apartment complex.”
Yet there is still a problem. “Such a scooter must be able to charge somewhere. With his electric bicycle he can still do that in his own shed, but with that four-wheeler he cannot make the turn on the narrow path.” The solution? “There must be a charging point in the apartment complex. For example, under the stairs, or in the large storage room. Then Wim can also park it neatly there.”
Eddy hopes that housing company Casade can do something about this. The landlord was not available on Wednesday, so it remains exciting for Grandpa Wim.
READ ALSO: ‘Grandpa Wim’ (94) no longer dares to cycle to Efteling after 7 accidents
Grandpa Wim previously told about his problem: