Albert van ’t Blik

I'm Albert, 53, married and the father of two children. I am self-employed and was Tasha's older brother. My sister died from pancreatic cancer four years ago. She was only 47 when she was diagnosed in 2016. At first, doctors thought she had Crohn's disease. She then sought a second opinion from Professor Casper van Eijck, who found that she had metastatic pancreatic cancer. Sadly, no curative treatment was possible.

Tasha accepted her situation remarkably quickly. “I've simply been unlucky,” she said. Above all, she did not want to suffer and wanted to spend her remaining time with her family. She called it “making memories” and drew up a complete plan. She did everything she still could and wanted to do.

I have had a close connection with football club Vitesse since childhood. I knew Theo and Marieke Bos when we were neighbours, and Theo — known as “Mister Vitesse” — encouraged me to become involved with the club. After six years on the foundation board, I now chair its Business Club. It is shocking to know two people diagnosed with the same disease in such a short period: both Theo and my sister died from pancreatic cancer, and since then others close to me have also been affected.

My sister was particularly heartbroken for our parents, who were losing their daughter. Fortunately, we were able to say a proper goodbye. She wanted my daughter to live in her flat after she was gone, and that happened just as she had planned. Tasha died in October 2017, but she will always be with us.

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