The Esther Vergeer Foundation celebrated 15 Years since its inception this week, marking the occasion with the launch of a new exhibition of photographs with the theme ‘Dare to Dream’.

Launched at the Cobra museum in Amsterdam, the exhibition depicts the dreams of 15 kids with a physical disability who have benefitted from wheelchair tennis projects instigated by the Esther Vergeer Foundation.

With one child selected to represent each year since the Foundation was founded, they were photographed by 15 Dutch celebrities or photographers, including Cynthia Boll, Edwin Smulders, Estelle Cruijff, Humberto Tan, Isa Hoes, Jasper Faber, Klaas van Kruistum, Klaas Jan van der Weij, Marc de Hond, Marco Borsato, Mathilde Dusol, Patty Brard, Sacha de Boer, Tom Bode and William Rutten.

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands opened the exhibition and talked to the stars who were present, who included Vergeer. The seven-time Paralympic gold medallist and 44-time Grand Slam champion recently became a mum for the first time and among the photos on display was one of Vergeer and daughter Jinte.

The exhibition is set to travel throughout the Netherlands and will be shown in 15 rehab centres. The aim is to inspire children, parents, and those who work in care services to think in terms of possibilities and not limitation. Sport is a great tool to promote this ethos, as it shows the children that they are part of something and helps to give them greater confidence.