He is only 11 years old, but he has come up with a big challenge for himself. Olivier van Eijndhoven from Loosdrecht will spend the next hundred hours in the garden. The goal: to raise as much money as possible for cancer research.
The reason is a sad one. A few months ago, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “That was a big shock and we all had tears,” says Olivier. He wanted to take action. “And then I came up with the plan to stay out for a hundred hours.”
During those four days and nights outside, he carries out all kinds of assignments. “People can donate and then ask me to do a challenge,” says Olivier. That ranges from counting hedgehogs and spotting bats at night to holding a ball up fifty times. “And on the coldest day I have to put ice cubes in my underpants, haha.”
The action started on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and Olivier has devised strict rules for himself. “I can only go in to pee. And I can go in the front yard as well as in the backyard, but then I have to walk outside,” says Olivier.
Text continues after the video
Olivier: “I can’t go in, so I can’t do the dishes anymore.” – NH News / Rachel Morssink
His parents are very proud. “An eleven-year-old child who invents this, that is very special,” says mother Maartje. “He arranged everything himself. The tent, friends who come to keep him company, the text and photo of the donation campaign online.”
She has just finished chemotherapy, but is combative. “From the beginning I said: I’m going to heal, we can do this as a family, it will be fine.” At the last MRI scan, she received wonderful news. “The tumor, which was originally eight centimeters in size, had disappeared. Very nice.”
Alpe d’HuZes
Due to the aggressive form of cancer, she will have severe treatments until next summer. After that, the family hopes to participate in Alpe d’HuZes. “I’m going to donate my money to that,” says Olivier. He occasionally worries about his mother. “I’m a bit quieter at school. That’s why I was allowed to play monopoly with my master and talk about home, which was nice.”
Together with his father, girlfriend Meis and the neighbours, Olivier sets up the tent. He is not afraid of getting bored. “No, I can play football and on the trampo.” There are now 23 challenges on his list, on average he has to perform one every five hours. “So there are still some assignments that can be added.” He therefore calls out: “Donations and new challenges are welcome!”
Watch in the video below how sister Juliette (9) and best friend Meis think about Olivier’s action. Text continues after video.
Sister Juliette and girlfriend Meis tell us what they think of Olivier’s action – NH Nieuws
Donation campaign
The garden challenge ends on Tuesday at 7 pm and Olivier is allowed to warm up inside again. The donation campaign runs for 17 days. The target amount of 4,000 euros has already been achieved on the first day, but Olivier also donates all extra donations to a charity in the field of cancer.
The banner in the front yard
Olivier with his best friend Meis
Olivier and his father set up the tent
Mother Maartje and Olivier (11) van Eijndhoven