– It is devastating for children when their parents become unstable due to severe illness. The family's everyday life is marked by deprivation and worry – not only for the sick parent but also for the family's finances, which are often challenged, says Louise Schelde Frederiksen, who, together with her brother, Rasmus Schelde Frederiksen, established the organization Human Rise in 2021 after having experienced illness in their family.

Louise Schelde Frederiksen grew up in Fole near Gram as the eldest sister to two in a completely ordinary nuclear family. Everything was good – until 2002, when her father, who at the time was a self-employed contractor and farmer, was struck by severe stress.

– It came as a shock to all of us. My father has always worked a lot, and suddenly he could do nothing. He developed a psychosis, was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for four months, and was admitted several times over the next five years, says Louise Schelde Frederiksen, who is a lawyer, author, and has 20 years of experience in the social and employment sector.

– We went from a carefree life with a cheerful and energetic father to a daily life with a sick father and a mother who was left alone with the children, the business, and the home. My father lost his life's work, and we lost our childhood home, she says.

Frustration led to the organization

The father was sent to a series of work trials, including as an assistant for a man with a disability, a waiter, in agriculture, and as a grave digger, which took such a toll on him that his doctor eventually issued a warning.

– During the fourth work trial, the doctor said that if it continued, the municipality would have to figure out who would pay for my father's funeral.

The father was granted early retirement pension, but the experience left deep scars, leading Louise and Rasmus Schelde Frederiksen to establish Human Rise, which among other things helps families affected by illness with legal advice in job center cases.

– Our wish is to help others who are in the same situation as us. No one gets sick on purpose, and it is important that sick people do not feel pressured. They need to have the energy to focus on their treatment, says Louise Schelde Frederiksen.

An important respite for the whole family

In 2025, the expectation is that the organization will provide legal aid to around 1,500 people and also act as a companion in about 500 cases. In addition to legal support and advice, the organization holds events for families affected by illness.

– We want to give families a break from illness, and with the donation from Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld, we can hold eight full-day events for 240 participants, says Louise Schelde Frederiksen.

The events are organized with a focus on child-friendly activities that create community, play, and good experiences. At the same time, there is catering for the whole family, so financial concerns do not become a barrier to participation.

For the children, it means a lot to meet others in the same situation and experience that they are not alone. At the same time, the parents get a break and an opportunity to see how shared activities can bring joy in a difficult time, says Louise Schelde Frederiksen.