Local initiatives that matter: ALAN – Maladies rares Luxembourg

2025 saw the launch of the first “Building Tomorrow Together” call for projects by BIL, with the aim of supporting local initiatives that reflected the Bank’s values and had a tangible impact within Luxembourg.

In this report, we met with Daniel Theisen, Director of the association ALAN – Maladies Rares Luxembourg.

ALAN – Maladies Rares Luxembourg

ALAN – Maladies Rares Luxembourg is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998, whose mission is to improve the quality of life of all people affected by rare diseases.

A disease is classified as rare if it affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. In Luxembourg, this accounts for nearly 30,000 people.

The association’s mission is to inform, advise and support people with rare diseases and their families. It navigates medical referrals with them, provides them with information about their condition and points them in the direction of competent services or specialist doctors. It also supports them with administrative, legal and social matters.

In addition, the association offers personalised psycho-social assistance. It is aimed at people who have been directly or indirectly affected by diseases, in order to help them in the various aspects of their daily lives: professional activity, school, family life, leisure activities, etc.

All aspects of life are affected by rare diseases. They not only have an impact on the person with the diagnosis, but also on their parents, siblings and the family as a whole; the entire family unit is affected and will face particular challenges that we try to overcome alongside others.
(Daniel Theisen)

Furthermore, the association organises adapted recreational and sporting activities, designed to improve the well-being of participants, to promote interaction and to offer them a break from their daily lives. These activities include yoga classes, workshops with therapy dogs, equine-assisted therapy, water-based activities supervised by physiotherapists, ‘Walk ’n Talk’ sessions in nature, and workshops at an educational farm.

“This allows people to have a change of scenery, step away from the medical and scientific world they are constantly exposed to for a while, forget their situation for a few hours, meet other people and just live their life.” Daniel Theisen.

Financial support from BIL

The recreational and sporting activities organised by ALAN – Maladies Rares Luxembourg are financed in part by the Ministry of Health and by private donations. The grant paid by BIL covered all remaining expenses for 2025.

The financial support provided to local players is part of BIL’s general sponsorship policy, which aims to support initiatives with a meaningful impact on Luxembourg society. BIL’s commitments in the fields of education, entrepreneurship, culture and sport are testament to the bank’s desire to play its part in driving the country’s dynamic spirit.

Découvrez ALAN – Maladies rares Luxembourg : https://alan.lu

Are you developing a project?

If your organisation is developing a project that aligns with one of our themes and could benefit from our support, we invite you to submit your application online. This will allow you to receive our next call for projects and be added to our distribution list.