Last year the Haarlem Erna Aarsen received a ribbon, especially for her work for the Help Dog Foundation. But she does so much more and she doesn’t let her wheelchair stop her. Now that more is coming to the fore, she is sometimes admired on the street. “And then I say: if I can do it, then you can do it completely!”
The ribbon and the resulting status as a ‘known’ Haarlemmer gives Erna a great opportunity to give everyone a loving push to do more for others. At a young age she was already involved in volunteer work through her parents and now she helps in the church, at the Zonnebloem and in the library. “It doesn’t have to be a limitation for anyone to volunteer. Whatever your age, color or rank.”
Erna Aarsen suffers from sclerodemia, which is a rheumatic disease, which means she is in a wheelchair. She can still live on her own thanks to an assistance dog. By giving guest lessons at primary schools, lectures and demonstrations, Erna Help Dog Foundation has given a lot of name recognition.
“It doesn’t have to be a limitation for anyone to volunteer”
Her fame took off when she covered 750 kilometers in her wheelchair in 75 days in 2020 for Walk4Veterans† Veterans can also benefit greatly from a service dog, she thought. Her former service dog Kaiko often accompanied her on her journey. With her action, she raised much more than her goal of 750 euros, namely 6,075 euros.
Erna talks about her project during one of her trips – NH Nieuws
Her service dog Kaiko is now retired. And now Borre accompanies her on her trips and activities through Haarlem.
Lasting appreciation
Her appointment as a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau does not require Erna to open more doors. She especially likes that she has been put in the spotlight with all her volunteer work. And that it does not stop at one award in the municipality of Haarlem.
Like all surviving distinguished Haarlemmers, she received an invitation for a special traditional evening for the decorated, this time held in the Philharmonie. According to the municipality, 250 guests have indicated to come here. “It struck me so much in the invitation letter that the municipality wants to continue to show that they appreciate us,” says Erna, who will certainly be there. “It’s not a one-time thing.”
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