From making music every day to barely being able to release a note: it happened to Aalsmeer singer-songwriter Saskia Veenswijk (40). Local artists organize Saturday a benefit concert in club N201 to raise money for their chronically ill colleague.
Saskia was told thirteen years ago that she suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and tick borne disease. She suffers from fatigue, tinnitus, inflammation, muscle pain and concentration problems. That is why the forty-something now mainly spends her days on the couch or in bed.
As a result, the singer-songwriter hardly manages to make music anymore. Practicing her profession as a music therapist and giving music workshops at VU Kinderstad Hospital is also becoming increasingly difficult. Saskia would like to have more energy again for the things that she finds important and that she enjoys.
Shoulder to shoulder
With the benefit evening, other Aalsmeer artists want to raise enough money to send Saskia to Australia for treatment that she cannot receive here. That treatment will not make her better, but it can reduce the pain she is experiencing.
Organizer and friend of Saskia Bart Vreken has known her for twenty years and is happy that he can help her in this way. “We really need to stand shoulder to shoulder with as many people as possible to help Saskia, because she deserves that,” he emphasizes.
“We can’t imagine that you can no longer make music if you love it so much”
One of the five bands that will perform on Saturday are The Black T’s. Singer Valerie van der Linden hopes to raise as much money as possible for Saskia. “We can’t imagine that you can no longer make music if you love it so much. It’s nice that we can contribute to such a good cause like this,” she tells NH.
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Guitarist Michael Echthuizen adds: “I hope it inspires people to work together for other people, without self-interest. The shared feeling of helping, that can be even more.”
In addition to The Black T’s, local bands The Hucksters, Lifeblood, Snö and Groos will take the stage. In addition to purchasing a ticket, the public can contribute by throwing money into the tip jars in the hall or scanning the QR code on the posters hanging there.
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A total of 38,000 euros must be raised. There have already been several fundraising campaigns and approximately 29,000 euros have currently been raised. Additional actions will also take place on Saturday. For example, there is a lottery where Bart is the ‘main prize’.
“That was a bit of a playful idea by Saskia’s sister. It is not to praise me, of course,” laughs Bart. Whoever wins the prize will receive a free guitar lesson from him. He is confident that the target amount will be achieved on Saturday. “We are almost there and we are going to come a long way. We just have to work together to provide that final push.”
The benefit concert for Saskia starts Saturday at 8 p.m.