Singer Wesley (40) from Tilburg received a ribbon on Friday for his efforts for others. It is especially appreciated that he has been committed to sports for people with disabilities for many years. He has therefore been appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Much to his own surprise, because he says: “This is very normal for me.”
Wesley thought he had a business meeting this Friday morning, but to his surprise he suddenly found himself in the Tilburg town hall. “I’m not often speechless, but now is one of those times,” he says. “The joke was that I actually had a business meeting.”
During the ceremony, he hears the mayor summing up what he has done since he was 12: “I didn’t even realize that. It’s very natural for me. It’s part of my parents’ upbringing. So very normal for me.”
Since 1999, Wesley has been one of the driving forces behind the G-Sportweekend in Tilburg, an annual sporting event for people with disabilities. There he is much more than just a familiar face: throughout the year he helps with organization, promotion and bringing in sponsors. He is also involved in working groups, sits on juries and regularly appears in the media to draw attention to the event.
According to the municipality of Tilburg, he has been ‘the face of the G-Sport weekend’ for more than 25 years: “Approachable, inspiring and a real driving force within the organization.”
But his commitment goes further than that. For example, since 1998 he has been acting selflessly for charities and fulfilling the last wishes of terminal patients. “With his music he brings comfort and connection when it is needed most,” said the mayor.
The singer also recently accompanied the band ‘De Bent’, in which people with intellectual disabilities play. He gave them music lessons, wrote lyrics and arranged performances. That led to their first major concert and a major boost in the musicians’ self-confidence.
After the first surprise, the official moment follows. Wesley is allowed to go to the mayor’s room and then, together with other decorated persons, is accompanied by a Pipes and Drumsband brought to the council chamber. There he takes a seat in the inner circle and is third on the line turn to get the decorations pinned on.
When the time comes, you can see that it affects him. “It’s a warm bath,” he responds. “I never did this for honor and recognition, but it is nice to receive.” For Wesley, the award does not feel like an end point, but rather a beginning. “It’s a start for me. I’m only 40.” He then indicates that he wants to inspire others, especially young people. “Especially twelve-year-olds,” he says. “Because if you start that early, you can get a ribbon at the age of forty.”
His motivation remains simple. “The most important thing is that you do what someone else would do for you in the same situation. I learned that at a very young age and I also pass it on to my children.”
Documentary about a Brabant G football team
In the documentary series The Goalgetters, more than football we follow the oldest G-football team in Brabant. Every episode you get to know one of the players. For example, we follow Naomi, who works in a supermarket that is run entirely by people with disabilities. And we see how Robert, who has only just started living in assisted living, learns how to prepare his favorite food. The daily life of the football players is slightly more complicated than that of the average Brabander. That only makes them even more motivated to play a nice game of football together on Saturday.
The documentary can be viewed for free and without an account on the video platform Brabant+.
