To celebrate that she'll turn 50 (on 20 January 2023), Queen Mathilde hosts a series of walks and bicycle tours all over Belgium. Each time she is accompanied by people who've been battling with mental health problems, and by mental health professionals.
The initiative is called Samen in Beweging voor het mentale welzijn / Avançons ensemble pour le bien-être mental, which translates to English as Let's move together for mental health.
The tours take place between July and December 2022.
On Wednesday 13 July 2022 Mathilde kicked off the tour in Varsenare, West-Vlaanderen. She cycled 30 kilometers with the visually impaired residents of Licht & Liefde and the handicapped persons from UNIE-K, Oranje and 't Veldzicht.
The second lap took place on Wednesday 7 September 2022 in Oost-Vlaanderen. Mathsilde was accompanied by teenagers from foster home De Plek, by persons with severe burns and by physically handicapped cyclists.
On Thursday 22 September 2022 Mathilde went to Liège, to take the children who are in care at the Foyers Sainte-Marie for a walk.
On Wednesday 28 September 2022 Mathilde made a walk in Brussels, in the rain, with Lazare Belgique, a network that brings together young professionals and homeless persons, Vivre et Grandir, that helps persons with a mild mental disability and Maison Médicale Esseghem, a local holistic medical center.
On Friday 14 October 2022 Queen Mathilde went walking in Namur and Assesse with the Centre Carpe Diem from Jambes who house persons with an intellectual disability, the Service Provincial pour la Santé Mentale, an overarching organisation for persons seeking advice on mental health issues, and with representatives of Psychiatric Hospital Saint-Martin-Dave.
Mathilde was in Beloeil, in the Province of Hainaut on Monday 17 October 2022. She went for a walk with children from La Porte Ouverte, a day center for adolescents suffering from epilepsia, neurological or personality disorders. They were joined by a group of children from L'Arc-en-Ciel, a school adapted to the individual needs of each pupil and a group of adults from sheltered workshop La Pommeraie.
A day later, on Tuesday 18 October 2022 Mathilde was in Limburg to cycle with cycle club De Bokkerijders, people from the project Rap op Stap by vzw Horizont, pupils of the Provinciaal Instituut Lommel and teenagers who participate in the work group "Nieuwe kansen geven". They did a 20 kilometer tour through Pelt, Hechtel, Lommel, Balen and Leopoldsbrug.
On Friday 28 October 2022 King Philippe accompanied his wife on her visit to Luxembourg, her home province.
Together they walked 15 kilometres in the forest of Saint-Hubert with:
Together they walked 15 kilometres in the forest of Saint-Hubert with:
- Health Oncology Program Exercise (HOPE), the exercise program the Hospital of Libramont offers cancer patients.
- Fit your Mind, an excercise program for persons with neurological diseases.
- Adage, who offer day care for adults with a handicap.
- Relais pour la Vie, a solidarity program of the Cancer League.
- Relais pour la Vie, a solidarity program of the Cancer League.
.jpg)
On Tuesday 8 November 2022 Mathilde was in Brabant Wallon. She cycled 22 kilometers around Tubize and Nivelles with patients and nurses of the Institut Médico-Pédagogique Le Colombier. Cyclists of "Respect Seniors" joined them along the route.
On Thursday 17 November 2022 Mathilde made a stop in Grimbergen to walk the Potaardewandeling with
- representatives of Te Gek?! who raise awareness for mental health issues,
- patients and nurses of the Sint-Alexius psychiatric hospital.
And finally, Mathilde walked 8 kilometers in Tongerlo on Tuesday 22 November 2022 when she was accompanied by members of
- Young FENIX, who offer free councelling sessions to teenagers,
- To Walk Again, who guide persons who've been physically handicapped to sports as a way to regain confidence.
.jpg)
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten