Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon (LLHM) on April 7, 2024 to raise money for the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund. Please consider giving through my page to help LSHTM enable the next generation of global health leaders to take up the challenge and continue Jeroen’s legacy. 

The Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund commemorates the life and work of my late husband, Dr Jeroen Ensink, Senior Lecturer in Public Health Engineering at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. On 29^th December 2015 Jeroen was attacked by a random stranger suffering from a psychosis, while he was out posting the cards announcing the birth of our daughter Fleur. Jeroen did not stand a chance to this vicious attack and died on the spot from his injuries.

Eight years of living without Jeroen by my side.
Eight years of raising our daughter Fleur by myself.
Eight of the hardest and yet most rewarding years of my life. 

Last year Fleur and I travelled across Southern Eastern Africa with an old battered fully equipped Landrover to raise funds for the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund and to keep my promise to show Fleur a part of the world that was so dear to him. Along the way we met up with former students, colleague and collaborators - each of them sharing their own memories of Jeroen with Fleur. Jeroen travelled with us and we will forever carry him in our heart!

If we stop talking about people who have passed away, they might be forgotten. I don’t want this to happen to Jeroen, not for me - but especially not for Fleur! I wish for her to carry forward this legacy and carry it with pride.

Turns out I quite like challenges...

So upon returning to the Netherlands earlier this year I was asked if I considered running the London Landmark Half Marathon in April 2024 to help raise funds. Without hesitation - and without any running experience - I wholeheartedly said YES! 

As you can imagine, December is a difficult month for me, with Fleur's birthday and Jeroens' date of death just around the corner. 8 years. Time is an odd concept for me since then.

In these dark days, I am out running in the wide open countryside here in the Netherlands. Being outside helps, moving my body helps me deal with my emotions much better. In the mornings I drop Fleur off at school, she os cycling and I am running alongside her and to my surprise I am enjoying the running! I imagine myself running along the Embankment and am thinking of Jeroen, of the life we had and the love we will always have. Grateful for what was and what is yet to come. 

I’m still moved by all the donations we have received to the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund and it’s mind-blowing to see what we have achieved so far. Together we have raised more than £90,000 - an exceptional sum which has helped some exceptional students achieve their dreams. Without many of you this would not have been possible. Although the fund has now almost depleted, I don’t want this to be the end! I want Jeroen to live on - not only in our memories but also in his legacy.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my page and consider a gift to the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund! 

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