France Digs Deep for Medical Research, Reaching €80 Million in Telethon Donations
Generosity Fuelled by Hope for New Treatments
France has answered the call for the 38th edition of the Telethon, raising a remarkable €80,001,520 for medical research. This incredible achievement symbolizes enduring hope for families affected by rare diseases and highlights the nation’s commitment to finding treatments and cures.
Laurence Tiennot-Herment, president of the French Association against Myopathies-Téléthon (AFM-Téléthon), expressed her immense gratitude, stating, “The French were there and brought nearly 80 million euros in pledges, which is enormous given the context. I want to say a huge thank you to all those who donated.”
This impressive sum will allow the AFM-Téléthon to continue its ongoing support for 40 human trials focused on over 30 different diseases, many prevailing without treatment or even diagnosis.
Mika, Telethon’s “Marathon Runner,” Celebrates Success
Singer Mika, serving as the sponsored “marathon runner” for the event, shared the collective enthusiasm, “We are really relieved, very happy, grateful, grateful! It wasn’t easy to change the date of the event, due to the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris on December 8th, but the Telethon supporters came through!”
Mika added, “It’s only by doing the Telethon that we understand the immense effort it takes to achieve this remarkable figure (…) and it’s not over yet!” Donations are still welcome on the telethon.fr website until July 6th.
Rare Diseases Take Center Stage
Thousands of events were organized across France over the weekend, with France Télévisions dedicating a full 30 hours of live coverage to the Telethon. National engagement manifested through field collections, pledges of donations via telephone and online platforms, a spirited gaming marathon, and a raffle.
A Special Focus: Battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
This year’s Telethon holds special significance due to its focus on treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a previously incurable ailment. This devastating genetic disorder destroys muscles and tragically affects one in 3,000 boys in France.
AFM was established in 1958, largely inspired by the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it empowers the Telethon as the driving force behind funding crucial research to combat this and other rare diseases.
HSP’s president revealed the urgency surrounding a specific treatment: “The needs in 2025 to finance an exceptional test about this disease exceed 30 million euros.”
While the Telethon has already raised an impressive €93 million for 2023, AFM is determined to reach their ambitious goal. Last year, the organization eagerly devoted around €60 million to financing the development of new therapies. The Telethon’s record-breaking donation was achieved in 2006, surpassing €106 million, showcasing the immense generosity of the French people.
What types of diseases does the AFM-Téléthon fund research for?
## France Celebrates Telethon Success
**Interviewer:** Laurence Tiennot-Herment, we just heard fantastic news about the recent Telethon. France has truly outdone themselves, raising an amazing €80 million plus! What does this incredible generosity mean for the AFM-Téléthon and the families you support?
**Laurence Tiennot-Herment:** [Thank you for having me]. I am overjoyed and humbled by the response of the French people. This €80,001,520 is a testament to their compassion and belief in our mission [[1]( https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Téléthon_en_France)]. This funding will allow us to continue funding 40 vitally important clinical trials focused on over 30 different rare genetic diseases – many of which have no existing treatments or even diagnoses. This is hope for so many families who are desperately seeking answers and a brighter future.
**Interviewer:** Mika, you were the tireless “marathon runner” for the Telethon this year. Tell us about your experience and what this success signifies to you.
**Mika:** [It was an honor to be part of this incredible event]. It wasn’t easy moving the Telethon date due to the Notre-Dame reopening, but the outpouring of support was truly inspiring. Seeing the French people come together to support this cause, to fight for these families, was truly heartwarming. It’s a future filled with hope for treatments and cures, and I’m so proud to have been a part of it.
