Operation "Patates Solidaires" (Solidarity Potatoes) will come to an end in four days – just enough time to rally support for research into better treatments for multiple sclerosis.
The connection between multiple sclerosis and the potato may raise a smile. Their respective world days both fall on 30 May, a coincidence that inspired a unique form of collaboration.
The Belgian Multiple Sclerosis League (Ligue SEP) therefore reached out to chip shops, inviting them to become partners in an operation supporting people affected by the disease. Over 13,000 people in Belgium live with multiple sclerosis.
For the past ten days, participating chip shops in Wallonia and Brussels have been acting as solidarity hubs. In each establishment, a poster displaying a QR code allows customers to make a donation to the Ligue SEP within seconds. Customers can also add a charitable contribution to their order via the Fritzy platform, a Ligue SEP partner that has joined the operation to facilitate online donations. The initiative represents an innovative way to raise funds from within popular venues rooted in the daily lives of Belgians.
"It's a tiny gesture, but it warms my heart", said Rita, whom RTL met at Bryan's, a well-known chip shop in Aubange and one of roughly 100 establishments in Luxembourg Province to join the solidarity movement. "I am sensitive to this disease because I know someone who suffers from it, and I really feel like I'm doing a good deed while treating myself by making my contribution, however modest it may be", added Rita, who said she was moved by the League's campaign to mobilise the public.
"I've always been a huge fan of François Damiens. So, all the planets are aligned", she said. The Belgian actor is the patron of this second edition. Having made a name for himself with his hidden-camera pranks, the Brussels native has forged a career in the French film industry.
To further stimulate participation, a competition among participating chip shops has been launched. The chip shop that garners the most likes and shares on its post will win a professional photoshoot with François Damiens. In 2025, 50 chip shops across Wallonia and Brussels took part in the operation. This year, that number has risen to 400 (here's the map).
Though sometimes little known to the general public, multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.
Every donation is dedicated to the League's actions aimed at improving the daily lives of people with multiple sclerosis. Specifically, the funds help to improve quality of life and preserve independence, offer personalised support through social workers, occupational therapists, and expert patients, provide adapted activities and stays to combat isolation, and inform, listen to, and support those affected as well as their loved ones.
A quick detour to the local chip shop offers a simple way to show solidarity. A list of participating establishments is available for those unsure where to go.
