The Warmest Week 2023 raises 8,790,633 euros for 287 projects: “My expectations have been exceeded” | Showbiz

* 8,790,633 euros in proceeds

* More than 75,000 cookies baked

* 14,136 requested plates

* 117,923 Vlammetjes sold

* 146 hours of live radio on MNM and Studio Brussels

* 29 artists joined in the flames on the roof of Het Warmste Huis

* 319 municipalities in Flanders and Brussels visited by the Flemish Reporters

* More than 140,000 visitors at ‘t Zand in Bruges

5 most requested records (in random order)

* ‘Guardian Angel’ – Marco Schuitmaker

* ‘Follow the sun’ – Xavier Rudd

* ‘Adore u’ – Fred again.. & Obongjayar

* ‘Another love’ – Tom Odell

* ‘Make it or die’ – Pommelien Thijs

Radio voice Robin Keyaert was allowed to present De Warmste Week for the first time. “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever done,” he said. “My expectations have been exceeded.” When Niels asks him if he wants to return next year, the answer is a very confident ‘yes’.

And he does this, together with many others, to the sounds of Sia’s hit ‘Unstoppable’.

And that became – not surprisingly – a Christmas album with ‘Last Christmas’. All together: laaaaaaaaaaaast christmaaaaaaaaas, I gave you my heart…

She chose the performance of Zwangere Guy, who came by on Saturday evening. His song ‘Better Life’ in particular left a deep impression.

No fewer than 150,000 people attended The Warmest Week at ‘t Zand in Bruges over the past seven days. And since no host city has yet been appointed for next year, the question arises: is the current city a candidate to also organize the event in 2024? You can read all about it here.

“I think it’s crazy how everyone has done their part,” says the radio voice. Colleague Eva De Roo wholeheartedly agrees.

Growing up without worries is something every child should be able to do. This turned out not to be easy for baby Pia, who made world news in 2019. The girl suffers from the muscle disease SMA, but was able to receive a life-saving medicine thanks to a large-scale fundraising campaign. Mama Ellen said during Dr Warmste Week that Pia – who no longer wants to be called a baby – has a better life than before, but that unfortunately it is not all roses and moonshine. You can read that again here.

He had sworn never to sing the song again, but for De Warmste Week Tom Waes made an exception. The TV presenter sang along loudly when his song ‘Dos Cervezas’ was played. Much to the delight of the fans, and you can watch it again here.

There is also no escape from this at the Public Broadcasting Service: artificial intelligence. Anyone who watches The Warmest Week online can still opt for a little extra. “Because De Warmste Week strives for one hundred percent accessibility, we are experimenting with AI around live automatic subtitles,” can be read on the VRT website.

During The Warmest Week, some dreams also came true, such as that of the 18 year old Daijiro. He suffers to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease that seriously affects and weakens the muscles. As a result, he cannot always participate in activities with his peers. “Long distances are difficult for me,” Daijiro said. “That’s why I often sit in a wheelchair.”

However, one of his big dreams was to experience a helicopter flight. This was fulfilled thanks to helicopter company TORAN, which donated €10 per flight to De Warmste Week. And Daijiro enjoyed it, just like flaming reporter Pien Lefranc.

For fourteen days they visited 319 municipalities to sample the actions organized for the Warmest Week. Now Manu Van Acker and Pien Lefranc have finally arrived at the last place: Bruges. And it was a warm reunion with the four presenters.

The last two hours of ‘The Warmest Week 2023’ are underway. Presenters Eva De Roo, Sam De Bruyn, Sander Gillis and Robin Keyaert get behind the microphone for the final sprint.

That record is held by young Theo, who is only three weeks and one day old. His parents did not ask for presents for Theo on the birth announcement, but they did ask to make a donation for other children who need it. “Our child is born in a good nest. It might be nice to support children who do need it in this way,” he said. And that yields a nice amount of 2,000 euros.

And the people who went down to ‘t Zand would have known that. Several small Christmas trees were blown over on the site of the Warmest Week, and a tent also went up.

You can view those photos here.

High profile visitors at the Warmest Week. The participants of ‘Down the road’ tell Sander that they too have organized actions to raise money. They made homemade granola, sold soup, waffles and candy bags. But the most special promotion: coloring books. Evert and Michael turned their hobby into a source of income and sold colored drawings and coloring books. With a great result because all actions raised a total of 15,000 euros.

Achiel made and sold jam together with his brothers and mother for the Warmest Week. Candy, cookies and chocolate milk were also sold for charity. This action was preceded by a large meeting: via QR code they talked with his good friend Oscar about the prices and the like. With success, because Achiel and Oscar were able to raise no less than 600 euros.

And for the enthusiasts: the most popular flavor turned out to be the raspberry jam, not coincidentally also Achiel’s favorite.

Cute visit in the studio: Lore, the girl who requested the song ‘Shotgun’ by George Ezra in a particularly cute way five years ago during ‘The Warmest Week’, shows up again. The girl is now 7, but still watches her often moment of glory back, she reveals. And she and her family also sold cupcakes for charity, which raised 100 euros. To celebrate, only one song could be played. Yes: ‘Abbi Abbi Shogge’.