Sander, 31, from the Netherlands Makes it Ageless:

Five years ago, I started working as a buddy for Buddycare, an organisation which connects people like me to a person who is chronically ill. This person is called a "buddy". I would like to tell you about one of my buddies: Loes. I will never forget her.

First meeting

I received a call from Buddycare, asking me if I wanted to meet up with Loes. Loes was a 63 year old lady from Utrecht, who was sick with breast cancer and had poor eyesight because of glaucoma.

For a small second, I wondered whether I wanted to meet up with an older lady. Would we have anything in common?

I decided to meet her anyway and went to her house. Loes opened the door: she looked much older than 63. Once inside, our conversation started slowly. I told her about my life but Loes was tired and felt sick so we decided to meet up a week later.

The second meeting was much easier. Loes told me about her breast cancer. Despite her illness, she joked a lot and we discovered that we have a similar sense of humour. Loes told me that she hardly goes out, sleeps a lot and watches TV. She also said that every day, a homecare nurse comes to help her bathe and do her shopping.

Talking about the past...and the future

During our first meetings, we talked a lot about the past. Being sick, Loes preferred to think about the past rather than her uncertain future. But the more we got to know each other, the more we talked about her future. We talked about the fact that she feels like she has done everything she wanted to do in her life.

I decided to bring my painting materials so we could paint a sunflower, which we proudly put on her wall. We both really looked forward to our visits.

I also helped her comb and blow dry her hair and put red nail varnish on her nails because it's a colour she could still see. Afterwards, Loes sat on her couch, smiling. This image will remain in my mind forever.

Aliens, cake and grandchildren!

One day, I arrived at Loes's house. She seemed rather confused and we found out she had blood on her brain. She started to see strange aliens but she still saw the humour in this and told the greatest stories about her new friends. I even introduced myself to them and Loes said they liked me!

Loes received 24 hour care which made her a lot better. She looked much better and talked more. We chatted and ate cake. She told me proudly about her new grandchild. Then when she got tired I helped her to bed. We said goodbye and I stroked her hair, just like my granny did with me when I was young.

A special bond

I could never have imagined having such a special bond with someone who was 63. I learnt that age really does not matter once you open up yourself to someone else. Older people can teach us so many things because of their experience.

And older people can also still learn things from younger people. Older people are not a burden but a source of knowledge. Since Loes, I've never met anyone as funny or as strong.

One week after our last meeting I received a call from one of Loes's children. She had passed away. I will always be grateful to have met her.