The Leuven Christmas Market will highlight three charities working for people with serious illnesses in 2024. Hence the call to buy and light a candle of hope at the Leuven Christmas Market from 11 to 22 December. By doing so, you will support them in their mission to offer hope to thousands of patients with some form of blood cancer, kidney disease or people undergoing organ transplants. Thanks to groundbreaking scientific research and innovative care, they are given the prospect of a cure and quality life.

We briefly introduce the three charities involved: 

• Children's Kidney Disease and Transplantation Fund Prof Van Damme-Lombaerts: The Fund's primary objective is to financially support both scientific and psychosocial aspects of transplantation in children. Children whose kidney, liver or intestines no longer function normally can be helped by transplantation since a number of years. The Fund aims to permanently improve survival and quality of life in these children. To this end, the Fund promotes translational research in the field of transplantation and raises awareness of prevention of organ failure in children with severe kidney, liver or intestinal disease.  A transplant has an impact on the whole family: the whole family is pretty much ‘co-transplanted’ and needs support and expert guidance. Quite a few families have social and financial problems. The fund helps families where necessary. In short, both scientifically and psychosocially, additional financial support is needed to optimise post-transplantation outcomes in children.

• ADPKD Fund: ADPKD or Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease is an inherited kidney disease. Any child of a parent with ADPKD has a 50% chance of also having the disease. The disease, which involves progressive formation and growth of cysts in both kidneys, eventually leads to kidney failure in many cases: by the age of 60, half of people with ADPKD need dialysis or kidney transplantation. ADPKD is also a systemic disease, in which cysts can also grow in other organs, most frequently in the liver. The growth of organs sometimes causes a heaviness in the abdomen or pain. Kidney disease also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Due to the hereditary nature of the disease, several members of a family and several generations within a family share the same problems. Other family members and relatives also share in the care of the sick. Much research is still needed into the underlying mechanisms of the disease so that better treatments can be developed. In addition, there is a great need for proper information for families with ADPKD and guidelines for structured care, in which all disciplines involved work together, are needed. The ADPKD Fund aims to support scientific research on ADPKD and is also committed to organising information days and symposiums to bring together scientists, doctors and families with ADPKD.

• The ME TO YOU fund was established to support blood cancer research. Microscopic examination can be used to diagnose Blood and lymphoma. These are malignant tumours arising from blood-forming cells or cells of our immune system. The disease is often manifested by lymph node swelling or by symptoms related to displacement of bone marrow, such as reduced immune defence. Unfortunately, young people also often face the disease, but thanks to advances in science, leukaemia is no longer a fatal-only disease. Scientific research is focusing on identifying the mechanisms of origin. It could be a mistake in the genetic code, or it could be a virus that escapes the control of our immune system. It is crucial to understand these origins in order to propose new forms of treatment, such as immunotherapy. The progress made in scientific research on tissue samples opens up prospects for new, personalised treatments.’ But the research programmes that raise so much hope are becoming increasingly expensive. This is where the ME TO YOU Fund aims to provide permanent support. 

So you can support this action by buying the typical candles and lighting them at the charity's stand. This can be found at the corner of Hoover Square with Ladeuze Square.