Anne and Luc, aged 65 and 63 respectively, have been married for more than 40 years and are the parents of three children and grandparents to two grandchildren. After 42 years in primary education, Anne retired in September 2023. Luc has decided to also step back from professional life—after serving as a senior executive within the Engie Group and SNCB—and will retire in 2028 in order to fully enjoy life together. They love travelling, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of their respective mothers.
Volunteer role: Members of the organising committee for a gala dinner in 2025.
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How do you support the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity?
Shortly after stepping back from our professional lives, we decided to help the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity and joined the organising team of the wonderful gala dinner at the Ultieme Hallucinatie last November. Since then, we have been part of the core team of volunteers.
Why did you choose to support research to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease?
Luc met Patrick professionally in 2001–2002, when Patrick was building his brilliant career at Bain & Company. From that moment on, beyond the great professional respect they had for each other, a strong friendship developed. In 2016, Anne-Marie and Patrick led a seminar for the executives of the N-Allo Group, a subsidiary of Engie, which was then managed by Luc. It is also worth mentioning that one of Anne’s close friends has had to face this terrible disease.
What advice would you give to others who would like to organise an initiative to support Parkinson’s disease research?
Supporting the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity immediately felt like an obvious choice for us, and it has allowed us to give a new meaning to our lives, centred around volunteering and the desire to be useful. It brings us wonderful moments of friendship, shared experience, and happiness.
What is your favourite motto to guide your life?
In our lives, there are a few quotes that reflect who we are: “When you learn to give without expecting anything in return, you will receive without having to repay the favour.” and also “Take things seriously without taking yourself too seriously.”