About one year and a half back, I was asked to become an ASBL ambassador. Not knowing what the mandate consisted of, I took the time to think about it before giving my answer. How time consuming would this task be? Would it be possible for me to insert it in my already overbooked work program?

All these doubts were quickly answered thanks to the enthusiasm of the President of the non-profit association Pinocchio.

According to him, I had enough energy to demonstrate to the general public the interest of his Asbl. Finally, I quickly accepted this mission. I wanted to invest my time for the children and the Pinocchio association seemed to be an ideal partner.

A few months later I got the status of a mum and this has further strengthened the sense of duty to help burned children.

I have become more aware of the dangers that await young children, carefree while they discover the world: one second of inattention and life can turn on a dime. I feel happy to watch these kids playing and enjoying life despite what has happened to them and it is a pleasure for me to give them a little attention and warmth through activities organised by Pinocchio such as the Saint Nicolas’s celebration and hydrotherapeutic cure Camp.

It is therefore with pride that I take my role as ambassador of the asbl Pinocchio and it is with great attention and willingly that I will pursue my mission.

Cathérine Moerkerke

My name is David Lallemand. I am 41 and have been working as a journalist with the RTBF for nearly 20 years. I have chosen the RTBF because I do believe in a public information service that can educate people to the media and span bridges between generations, cultures, human race borders.

Thanks to my career on radio and television I have met thousands of people : state leaders, cinema and theatre stars, singers, ministers, managers ... but also a lot of anonymous people with no title nor rank that have impressed me most.

Those anonymous people have helped me understand the real goal of my job : to give voice to show the richness and generosity of those people working behind the scenes to get involved with the others. Today, thanks again to my profession, I have met the Pinocchio Association for the benefit of burned children.

The youths are our hope ; yet when burns enter their lives, it is as if their hope evaportes.

Nevertheless, splendid and dedicated men and women work daily to beat pain, scars (physical and moral), injustice and despair in order to reinstall self-confidence and build a new life for these little victims confronted to the worst of ordeals : to become someone with his/her difference.

That work must be valued and appreciated because we all are potential burned patients. I consider it an honour and a priviledge to have been offered to be the ambassador for the Pinocchio Association. As such one enlarges his family. I am very happy to be a part of it, together with you.

Pinocchio reminds me of the story my grandmother told me. Her grandmother was a washerwoman at the beginning of the last century. She had a gift to heal burns with rasped potato and selected plants which she mixed carefully. At that time, women wore long robes and a collection of petticoats.

My ancestor was not rich and her talent did not pay much. They used gas-lamps to light the rooms. One day, the gas-lamp broke at her feet and she took fire like a human torch. Before she died, she gave my grandmother a pair of earrings which she never left. I treasure them today.

Eventually, we were meant to meet !

David Lallemand

My name Alexander Homann. I'm 43 years old and I've been working for 20 years as a journalist with the BRF - the Belgian TV channel in German - the equivalent of the RTBF, but in the German speaking part of Belgium.  From 1998 to 2002, I worked as chief editor for the information network EURONEWS in Lyon and the German Television in Saarbrücken.

Like David, the french-speaking ambassador for Pinocchio, I support the public service in the audiovisual world.

My experience as an ambassador for Pinocchio started in October 2009 when I was asked to join the NPO who works with burned kids through the whole country. I did not hesitate for one second !

As I myself had to fight against cancer some years ago, I am pretty well aware how support beyond the hospital care is important to help a patient get better. My wife stood by my side in those difficult moments due to my illness.  Thanks to Suzanna I've been able to survive and recover.

Now it's my turn to support the Pinocchio NPO incredible work to help the young victims of burns.

Alexander Homann