Kus van Kiki

It could happen to anyone… You’re just living your life, and then it turns out you have cancer.
That’s what happened to our dear, cheerful Kiki, daughter of Maarten and Susanne, sister of Anouk.

During the summer vacation of 2019 in Thailand, Kiki, then 14 years old, became seriously ill: liver cancer with metastases in both lungs. From Thailand, she was flown straight to Amsterdam, where we were placed on the roller coaster ride of the Prinses Máxima Center in Utrecht.

A period followed filled with hospital stays, numerous tests, intense chemotherapy, surgeries, complications, radiation therapy, feeding tubes, and a mountain of medications. It was a tense and challenging time. In March 2020, it became clear that no further treatment was possible and that Kiki had only a short time left to live. However, Kiki refused to give up.

Her motto became: “If life makes you stumble, turn it into a somersault!”
The precious time she had left was filled with meaning. Despite the pandemic, she managed to check many items off her bucket list and even graduated from high school. Her body didn’t always cooperate, but whenever she had enough energy, she loved to make others happy with handmade surprises or gifts. She also dedicated herself to good causes such as Make-A-Wish and the Prinses Máxima Foundation.

In September 2020, Kiki was approached by the BNN program “Over Mijn Lijk” (“Over My Dead Body”), and she enthusiastically decided to take on this adventure. The opportunity to create a meaningful documentary about herself during the short time she had left and to give others a glimpse into her young life with cancer was something she embraced wholeheartedly. Additionally, Kiki was thrilled to contribute to such a beautiful television program. Theater, media, and TV had always fascinated her.

In July 2021, with heavy hearts but immense pride, we had to say goodbye to our brave, beautiful Kiki. Kiki was 16 years old. In the last months of her life, she even designed and sold her own t-shirt to raise money for the Prinses Máxima Center—not only to thank them for their excellent care but also to fund further research to continue the fight against childhood cancer. Kiki’s determination to use her limited energy to raise funds for KiKa (a Dutch foundation against childhood cancer) is something we now continue in her honor.

Just as Kiki fought against cancer, Team KusvanKiki has been fighting every year in the Dolomites since 2022, climbing the mountains during Giro di KiKa. Because what Kiki and her family went through should never happen to anyone.

Out of this team, who have already raised more than 100.00 euros for KiKa, the foundation Kus van Kiki was brought to life. The foundation makes efforts to raise money to support KiKa and similar initiatives dedicated to advancing research, providing care, and improving the lives of children with cancer.

Together, we hope to raise a significant amount so further research can be conducted and more children can be cured of childhood cancer.