After years of harassment, 23-year-old Gerard Wagemakers from Rijen put an end to his life almost twenty years ago. A huge blow to mother Marie-José, who still has an impact on her and her family. The mother fears that more children will get through harassment and has therefore started the Gradje Foundation, named after the nickname of her son. With a cookie campaign she hopes to raise money to make children pursue their dreams. “A child always has a dream,” she says convinced.
The quirky Gerard already loved technology in high school. In addition, he dreamed of a future as a musician, but his fellow students did not like that. “Gerard had a different purpose than his peers,” says Marie-José.
It was the reason for years of harassment. What started with what stricter grew into annoying and painful harassment in which cola was poured into his neck and he was put in his neck with a compass. Gerard was even put under pressure that he stole jewelry from his parents to keep his bullies satisfied.
At the age of 14 he tried to put an end to his life, which did not work. It was a big blow to the family. Gerard went to another school and followed a lot of therapy, so he seemed to be on top. He had new friends and girlfriends and had dreams again for the future.
Yet at the age of 23 he still put an end to his life. “Gradje did not succeed in finding the mental skills to live on. It is still a big loss. He is my son and everything is said with that,” says the mother.
Talking about thoughts to suicide helps. You can call 24 hours a day with Stichting 113 Suicide Prevention via 0800 0113 or chat via EN 113.nl.
Twenty years after her son’s suicide, Marie-José still sees that children are slowed down to pursue their dreams. “That can be a divorce, for example, by harassment or because adults say that children should not do something they want,” says the mother. “At that time, children lose a basis so that they can easily lose their dreams.”
Together with her son Victor, Marie-José set up the Gradje Foundation. With several collection actions such as running a marathon and selling cookies, they hope to collect two tons in the coming period. With that they want to realize a place where children can play their dreams in a playful way.
This week the first cookie spots were sold in the supermarket in Rijen. “A child always has a dream and if it ends up in the right place, it can pursue his or her dreams,” says the mother convinced.
Victor and Marie-José get a lot of power from the foundation and often dream about what Gradje would have found. “He would be so proud,” laughs the mother.
