Support floods in for Suzan & Freek after news of Freek's terminal illness
Freek Rikkerink (32) from the singing duo Suzan & Freek has metastatic lung cancer with no chance of recovery, the duo wrote on their Instagram page. In the same post, they announced that they are expecting their first child at the end of this year. The post is flooded with messages of support from fans.
“We are completely devastated. We have been inseparable for 18 years, and together we still have so many beautiful things to live for,” they wrote. “We are going to enjoy the time that has been granted to us for as long as possible, even though we do not know how long that will be.”
Suzan & Freek cancelled all their upcoming performances and other activities. “We want to ask for peace and privacy for us and our families and friends in this difficult time.”
The post was flooded with responses wishing the couple strength and support. “I cried for two hours,” super fan Sane told NOS. She had tickets to attend all three performances by Suzan & Freek at the Ziggo Dome this weekend and got the news as she was texting her friend about what time to go. “I immediately broke down. I called that friend, and there were also a lot of reactions in the group chat with fans. We find support in each other there.”
Celebrities like Typhoon, Qmusic DJ Domien Verschuuren, Claude de Breij, Chantal Janzen, and Tim Hofman, among others, also responded under the post. “Devastated and without words,” Verschuuren wrote.
3FM DJ Barend van Deelen was at the Suzan & Freek concert on Sunday without knowing it might be their last. He heard the news on air with his fellow presenter, Nellie Benner. “We thought: this can’t be true. It’s so unfair. He’s such a young and healthy boy, in appearance. We really had to recover from it on the air.” During the broadcast, the DJs played songs by the duo and gave listeners a chance to react to the news. “In the moment, despondency was the dominant factor.”
