The collection was started in 1989 after radio personality Kathy Lindekens, having lost both of her parents to the disease, expressed the wish for a massive public collection to fund research. “That was in the period of big benefits like Live Aid,” she said. “But we didn’t have the tradition in Flanders of organising large-scale collections.” Nevertheless, the public responded en masse, bringing in a total in the first year of 100 million Belgian francs (€2.5 million). The campaign now happens every two years, with the takings rising to €3.3 million in 1990-91 and €11.6 in 2006-07.
Last week the charity gave details on last year’s income and expenditures. Half of the total income came from direct pledges and one-third from volunteer actions. The Flemish government paid €950,000, or 8.2%, and the sale of apples in schools brought in another 1.5%. On the other side of the ledger, €4.5 million went to psychological support services for cancer sufferers and their families, including helplines and holidays.
The previous campaign was centred on breast cancer, and €2 million was set aside for new initiatives in psychosocial care. Just over €1 million went to child-cancer home care units in Leuven and Ghent. The money given by Flanders region was spent on scientific research. Other areas targeted included palliative care, public information, local coordination, prevention campaigns and self-help groups.
Flanders Today is a 
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