On 26 and 27 September 2013 some forty persons
suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) accompanied by 60 members of the
operational command of the Belgian Air Component led by Major-General
Claude Van de Voorde himself are going to climb the Mont Ventoux in France. Since many
years the Belgian Air Force has been helping the different sections of the
"Belgian MS League” by organising specific actions for the benefit of
the association. A typical event was the Charity Run organised on June 22nd, 2013
by the Belgian F-16 detachment at Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan, but nearer
to home well known examples are the KB Motor run at Kleine Brogel airbase and
the Indian Day organised by the 15th Wing at Melsbroek airbase.
MS is an inflammatory disease in which the
insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This
damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate,
resulting in a wide range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental,
and sometimes psychiatric problems. The sportive action to climb the Mont
Ventoux must be seen as an encouragement to fight against these symptoms by
"keeping on moving". This is physically beneficial but certainly also
improves the mental health of the patients.
The Belgian Air Component is one of the most dynamic
and enthusiast sponsors of the Belgian MS leagues and is particularly
appreciated by the organisations.
The organising team of "ComOpsAir goes MS"
