Every day, rain or shine, a 90-year-old husband rides his bicycle more than 10 kilometers to visit his wife in hospice. Every day, Peter Burkhardt gets on his bike and rides to see his love, who is in hospice in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. “I don’t mind the cold, and if it rains, I can put on a rain jacket.” If the traffic is extremely severe, I’ll hire a cab or have one of my sons bring me.
So I’ll always find a way to see my wife,” Peter explained.When questioned why he makes such an effort every day at the age of 90, he said that after 63 years of marriage, they always want to be together. “I want to see and be with my wife.” “We’ve been married for 63 years, so you want to be together,” he explained.Peter has been biking to see his wife for more than seven years as she receives care for age-related dementia.
“It takes me about an hour, but in the heavy wind it takes a little longer,” he explained. “I’m hoping to keep doing it.” I walk much less now, but my cycling continues to go well. I must accept the situation as it is. I really want to spend every day with her. I just can’t stop thinking about her. For a while, I drove, but even then, I alternated with the bike.”When asked if his wife is aware of what he does for her every day, he replied,
“No, not at all. It is entirely outside of her experience. But when I return, I see that she occasionally offers me a very sweet embrace.”Their son, Wouter Burkhardt, stated that his father’s dedication to his mother is what keeps her going every day. “I think they’re keeping each other alive with this,” remarked their son.Peter revealed that he still loves his wife as much as he has for the past 63 years.
“I’d like to see her and hear her voice.” When I walk into the nursing home, I know exactly where she is. She’s not the same as she used to be, but I’m still in love with her.”