Стichting ALS Nederland Launches Hard-Hitting Campaign "The Inevitable Decline" after a Decade
After a decade, Stichting ALS Nederland, a Dutch charitable organization, has returned with a confronting new project, ‘The Inevitable Decline’. This campaign follows several ALS patients over an extended period, capturing their journey through poignant photographs and videos.
The campaign, which will unfold across radio, TV, online platforms, and digital screens at NS stations, features five patients. Tragically, four of them—Anneloes van der Zee, Juliette Vekemans, Sebastiaan Kuiken, and Ingur Zijlstra—have since passed away. Frank Bos is the sole survivor among them.
In the initial video, Juliette can be seen speaking about her disease from her wheelchair. Three months later, she discusses explaining her impending death to her children. In her final video, her words are spoken by a speech computer, highlighting the devastating progression of the disease.
"None of us anticipated the participants’ decline to be this devastatingly swift. In less than a year, four out of five participants have passed away," says Frederique Kram, Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising at Stichting ALS Nederland. "Seeing these images back-to-back is confronting, even for us."
ALS: From Obscurity to Global Recognition
Fifteen years ago, few had heard of ALS. However, the 2011 campaign ‘Ik ben inmiddels overleden’, the 2014 global Ice Bucket Challenge, and the 2021 Amsterdam City Swim, in which Queen Máxima participated, significantly raised awareness of the disease in the Netherlands. The 3FM Serious Request Glass House in 2023 further contributed to this trend.
Hope on the Horizon: The Race for a Cure
Despite the fatal nature of ALS, researchers are optimistic. A working drug, Tofersen, has been discovered for a rare form of the disease, suggesting that a cure could be within reach. However, more research is vital, and this requires substantial funding.
In this light, the participants in ‘The Inevitable Decline’ make an urgent appeal for donations to support ALS research. Despite their own dire situations, they urge the public not to give up hope. Their message is clear: "I cannot be saved, but perhaps you can."
Donate now at www.als.nl/doneren to support vital ALS research and bring us one step closer to a cure.
