Kees van den Berg leads a running group for people with Parkinson’s every Thursday afternoon at the AV23 athletics club at sportpark Middenmeer.
He started the group after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s himself, and all the runners have the disease.
This week Sofyan Mbarki, the city’s alderman for sport, presented him with a Respect Award.
Nominated by his club
AV23 nominated him for the Respect Awards, which honour volunteers who make an impact at their club, and he won.
Club chair Roy Marinus says it is wonderful to see a long-serving member and trainer recognised.
Support and football
Sietse, who joined in 2022, received a flyer for the sessions at OLVG hospital along with his diagnosis.
He says the runners support each other by sharing how they cope, and that it is good to talk about it.
The illness is not the topic at every session, and the group often talks about football and other sports.
Van den Berg says he is moved that the runners keep coming back, and proud, without false modesty, that his work has been recognised.
If this has you thinking about joining a club yourself, start with the sports clubs around the city.