Asbl SuperNils
Monthly Newsletter
Month: April 2024
Important news facts
New statutes
Our association needs to submit updated statutes. These must include the names of the new and outgoing board members, some adjustments need to be made regarding the operation and target group, and some minor adjustments are needed in the context of the new regulations on non-profit organisations.
Notary Jan-Baptist De Smedt looked at the draft statutes with a critical eye and made some minor adjustments. Now they are ready for publication. You can already read them by clicking on the picture on the right.
First, however, the bylaws still need to be approved by members at the general assembly. This was on the agenda of 13 March, but we were not in number to decide then. After all, we would then need 2/3 of our members. Therefore, there will be a second special general meeting on 29 April 2024, via Zoom. There will then be only 1 item on the agenda ... the amendment of the articles of association. To decide then, the 2/3 attendance is no longer necessary. However, we also launched a poll among the members, in which they can already give their agreement or non-agreement. That poll is not legally valid, but it can be added to the B.A.V. as a supplement.
Those who have not yet voted on the poll can do so, BEFORE 29 April 2024, using the button below.
New member of the Executive Board
Jan-Baptist De Smedt is the new member of our Board of Directors. He replaces Frank Noten, who has resigned for personal and family reasons. We wish Frank a lot of strength in advance!
Jan-Baptist is a notary in Kalmthout and can add great value to our organisation. After all, he can look at the management, operation and goals from a legal point of view and thus help us to always act through the correct procedures. We therefore welcome Jan-Baptist to our organisation.
Adaptation of operation of non-profit organisation SuperNils
After the general meeting on 13 March and a consultation with KOTK on 29 March, we initiated a change in our operation and target group.
Of course, in doing so, we are not ignoring our great goal and the desire of Nils
Asbl SuperNils wants to start supporting patients all over Belgium. The bar is very high and probably not financially feasible. After all, this would involve more than 100 hospitals with a haematology department, which would require a lot of money recurrently. If you live off sponsorship and project funds, a recurrent income flow is not evident. Hence these readjustments.
1° We are moving away from our gift packages. These are expensive and only reach a limited target group (only the people who are currently in hospital). We switch to our interactive packages, which all patients can use throughout the year. So betting on this is much more sustainable.
2° We will provide support throughout Belgium, but in a limited number of hospitals. We will therefore collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health's initiatives. We want to support the reference hospitals and specialised children's hospitals designated by the Ministry. These are hospitals that support children, adolescents and young adults with cancer. AZ Klina, AZ Jessa and AZ Delta are not in this pool, but we will continue to support them, as we are already doing so.
3° Our target group thus changes to children, adolescents and young adults (i.e. from 0 years - 40 years) with cancer in general. So we are going broader than haematological cancers, which we already did for children at UZA, UZ Gent and UZ Leuven. This will make our target group clearer and better defined. Our original target group remains, because haematological cancers are obviously still included, only the ages are somewhat restricted. We do remain within the category to which Nils also belonged.
These changes will make our organisation even stronger. After all, we are in line with the ministry's objectives, which will make us even more credible. Meanwhile, a letter has been sent to Frank Vandenbroucke for further consultation regarding this possible cooperation. We keep our fingers crossed that this consultation will take place.
Our podcast
Our podcast ...
... is currently on hold for now, as we have too much work with our interactive boxes, writing out projects to bring in project funds and adapting our operation.
The already recorded podcast episodes will, of course, remain available to listen to, via this website, Spotify and Apple Podcast. Click on the picture on the right to go to these episodes.
Project operation
Our current projects
Asbl SuperNils is in the process of developing and further developing various interactive packages.
1° The movement case ie launched and was put into use in the current 6 partner hospitals. There, it is mainly the physiotherapists who are using it. During the month of May, we will receive feedback from them and can enter the final phase of the project. We will then start modifying cases, adding materials and putting together additional cases. These will then be delivered to the hospitals by the end of June. From then on, the project of Foundation Against Cancer - Lifetime Grant will be concluded.
2° Our technique box has been distributed at UZA and UZ Gent and can be used. During the month of June, it will be delivered to UZ Leuven.
3° The VR package is under development. For this, we have already received pennies from Foundation Against Cancer (Social Grants), The Warmest Week and Roche. With this money, we are currently developing the SuperNils environment, the Avatar that will accompany patients, the movement game and the interaction tool, which will enable virtual peer contact.
4° SuperNils submitted a new Lifetime Grant to the Foundation Against Cancer. This time for an additional tool within the VR project. We want to provide accurate information to patients and their loved ones, through questions from themselves and answers from experts. We foresee various themes, such as nutrition, sexuality, hygiene, ... In June, we will know whether the project was accepted or not.
5° We are currently working on a new project for the Social Grants of Foundation Against Cancer. It will be a collaboration with MOSA ballet school from Liège. Via films on the website (to be viewed via PC, smartphone or tablet), we let patients move to music. They do this under the guidance of MOSA ballet teachers. The project will also be integrated into the VR environment. During a follow-up year, we want to expand to on-site ballet classes (in hospitals) and live classes via VR. The project should be submitted by mid-June 2024. From November, we will then know whether it was approved or not. SuperNils will go to Liège in May to work out the project in concrete terms so that it can be submitted in time.
In the spotlight
Oncolloquium Ghent 2024 - organisation of Foundation Against Cancer
On Saturday 27 April 2024, the Foundation Against Cancer will organise the Oncolloquium at the ICC in Ghent. Science and healthcare organisations will meet at this event. Vzw SuperNils will also be present, firstly to make their operations known, and secondly to establish new contacts with other patient organisations and care initiatives.
The new operation and the adapted target group will certainly be discussed here. We also hope to establish contacts with organisations that want to participate in our information box, which patients ut the partner hospitals will receive upon their diagnosis. Of course, we always aim for a win-win situation, so that all parties (including SuperNils) benefit.
Want to know more about the Oncolloquium? Click on the print opposite.
Help requested
Levensloop Schoten - September 7 and 8, 2024
As of this year, non-profit organisation SuperNils is actively involved in the organisation of Levensloop Schoten. Leona, Karin and Nadia organise the emotional candle ceremony, which continues on Saturday evening. During that moment, the fighters are put in the spotlight and remembered for those who lost the battle against cancer.
Our people have already mapped out a beautiful route, with various places to take a break and reflect on those around you who are fighting the disease or have lost the battle.
Candle bags should be placed along the course. We are talking about hundreds of bags with tea lights or battery-operated candles. To get all this done in time, we need your help. If you would like to come to Schoten Park for a few hours to help prepare the candle ceremony, please send an e-mail to leona.koninckx@supernils.be. Thanks in advance!
Levensloop Schoten - participation
Asbl SuperNils will of course be present again during the Levensloop Schoten with a SuperNils team. People who come to walk to support the fight against cancer. We want to be present for 24 hours on the beautiful park course. But of course, not everyone has to walk for 24 hours! If you can come and walk/run/walk for an hour, we already have 24 participants enough to complete the day and night. Of course, you may do more!
Register quickly, by clicking on the picture to the right. It costs just 10 euros per participant, but you will help so many other people by doing so. Of course, choose our team, vzw SuperNils. At the start you will then receive a SuperNils team badge, so everyone can see which team you are stepping for. Don't hesitate, do it quickly. We still need a lot of participants!