Two fundraisers for Sidney Ruiter, the student who was left partially paralysed after being shot by Azim A. on the Korreweg last year, have raised more than 30,000 euros.
Translation by Traci White
Ruiter was shot by Azim A. after Azim and a group of other men addressed him while he was biking on the Korreweg last year. Ruiter got off his bike to speak to them, and Azim shot him five times. Ruiter was left paralysed from the waist down. Azim was sentenced to ten years and mandatory psychiatric treatment last week.
In a statement during Azim A.’s trial, Ruiter spoke emotionally about how his life has been entirely changed by his injuries, describing how he can no longer simply live or travel independently without making complicated plans and relying on others. The Groninger Internet Courant reports that the funds raised are meant to “help cheer him up and help him to regain his confidence”, according to the fundraiser description.
The money is being raised through two different donation platforms: doneeractie.nl, which is where the majority of the money has come from (29,699), and GoFundMe, which has brought in 1,562 euros so far. The GoFundMe campaign’s goal is to ultimately raise 10,000 euros. Both of the fund raisers were launched by Jasmijn Honkoop, who lives in Zeeland.