On 12 September 2026, families, volunteers and professionals from all over Belgium gathered at the Ferme de l’Arsouille in Temploux to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Ligue Huntington Francophone Belge (LHFB). EHA was proud to be there alongside colleagues from the Association Huntington France and the Flemish Huntington Liga.
In a true do-it-yourself spirit, the Ligue’s volunteers and staff turned an empty farmhouse into a warm, colourful venue. The program reflected the Ligue itself: serious conversations about care and research, a look back at three decades of work, and plenty of room for connection.
The Ligue was born out of one family’s experience. In the early 1990s, after years of misdiagnosis, a family in Wallonia received confirmation that Huntington’s disease ran in their family. At the time there was no HD support in French-speaking Belgium, so they turned to the Association Huntington France, which supported them for two years and encouraged them to create an association at home.
With the help of a geneticist, who connected them with other affected families, a first informal association was created in 1995. In June 1995, around 100 families and professionals attended the first large information meeting in Ottignies: the founding moment of the French-speaking HD movement in Belgium. On 20 June 1996, the Ligue officially became a non-profit association.
In her first testimony in Le Défi, the Ligue’s newsletter, Marie-France Cordier, the first president, wrote words that still describe the Ligue today:
“Together, and no longer alone, we must keep hope. […] We need you. TOGETHER, LET’S TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE!”
     — Marie-France Cordier
From the start, the Ligue focused on three needs that families identified: information, support, and adapted care structures. This translated into concrete progress:
The Ligue has been a close partner of EHA over the years, most recently through the Huntington Academy. Launched in May 2025, the Academy brings together contributions from 32 family members and healthcare professionals from across Europe.
The anniversary was also about the future:
A new case manager contract, which allows the Ligue to accompany people with complex needs living at home, in coordination with hospitals, mental health services and care homes.
Research participation, through Enroll-HD and its next phase.
Unmet needs the Ligue will keep fighting for, including adapted living spaces for younger people with HD and better access to care.
As Filipa put it: “To build a brighter future, you need to respect and learn from the past.“
Félicitations to the Ligue Huntington Francophone Belge on 30 years of commitment, dedication and invaluable work for the HD community in Belgium. We look forward to many more years of working together. Stronger Together! 💙
– Article written by Bruna Costa