Muscles Belgium

 
Enthusiasm and energy in Belgium for Muscles for Charity is centred on the medieval town of Lier, situated east of Antwerp. 
The picture (above) features team members and recipients of a Muscles interior painting  job at ‘De Lier’ in 2007.
 
For several years ‘Jerome’s’ home made ice cream parlour in Lier was the meeting place for team members. The unique mix of friendship and mischief, blended with the Belgian brand of hospitality and wonderful ice cream greeted friends from around the world and was celebrated in 2010 by a special song written and performed by ‘The Black Capri’s’. 
 
It is probably playing now so please turn on/up your volume!!! and visit the YouTube clip at the bottom of this page.
 
Muscles for Charity – Belgium was launched in 2004 by selling ice cream on a warm summer afternoon in the middle of the City. The local team subsequently join forces annually with Muscles volunteers from Canada, the USA and UK.   In 2005 the volunteers prepared 64 specialist breakfasts, featuring versions from North America ( including maple syrup) and England (with baked beans).
 
Visit the Muscles – Belgium 2006 page which features a slideshow represents some of the fun, mischief and wonderful friendships that have been generated by the Belgian team members
 

Significant financial donations have been provided to charities assisting Tsunami victims in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and in 2010 humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti via the Belgian national             co-ordinator.

The Belgian team consists of

  • Johan Rens, Elsa Massei, Robert Verhaejen, Ann Massei, Stef Vekemans, Leen Massei, Maaike Van Den Broeck ,
  • and international guests:
  • Sharron Lyons and Sandy Bosma (Muscles for Charity Canada),
  • Glenna Trout, Ed Usher, Steve Kent, Nina Kaszina, Elaine Palmer, Alan Seaman and John Bishop (Muscles for Charity UK),
  • John Marx, Steve Milliken, Amy Milliken, Brenda Cartwright, Chris Manos  (Muscles for Charity USA)

Members of the Belgian team also recieved the ’High Sheriffs Award’ in England for the volunteers outstanding commitment to helping people in the community.  Johan Rens and Robert Verhaejen proudly display their certificates which were presented during a Muscles project in southern Austria during the summer of 2010. John and RobVisit the Muscles UK 2010 Project page for more pictures of the Austrian adventure 

The ‘Black Capris’ consists of Muscles volunteers Stef and Rob, and (lyricist) Ann.