Each year its hassle.
After the broadcast of the tribute to Johnny in 2017, overshadowing the Telethon, scheduled for the same evening, the movements of the yellow vests in 2018, the strikes at the end of 2019, the Covid-19 in turn comes to bar the route of the most famous charity event, which begins this Friday.
Two years ago, it was necessary to abandon the Place de la Concorde, for safety reasons, and find another set at the last moment, a titanic job.
Last year, the rare diseases march was canceled for lack of transport.
And the artists, taken aboard mototaxis to the TV sets.
A puzzle.
In 2020, the height of the curse, the epidemic is preventing activities in the field.
Each edition, 12,000 municipalities are mobilized, 50,000 associations, 250,000 volunteers.
Without counting the 5 million French people, who participate in the Telethon by making pancakes, races, a lottery.
In all, 40% of the collection goes up in smoke.
“We estimated this loss at 30 million euros, says Laurence Tiennot-Herment, president of the French Association against myopathies (AFM-Telethon).
We are counting on postponing activities on the Internet with sporting and culinary challenges.
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30 hours of broadcasting
The teams also hope that the confined French will be more numerous to watch this 30-hour TV marathon on France 2 and France 3. “Especially since we are going to announce magnificent victories this year, enthuses the president, proof that impossible is not part of our vocabulary ”, while 3 million French people are suffering from rare diseases.
If AFM continues to fight for type 1 spinal muscular atrophy to be the subject of neonatal screening, a first treatment has just been found.
Another victory, little Jules, 4, suffering from myotubular myopathy, was able to benefit from an injection as part of a clinical trial thanks to the pioneering research of the Généthon laboratory.
“Since January, he has been reborn to life, it's our ray of sunshine,” says Laurence Tiennot-Herment, in a soft voice.
And happy coincidence of the calendar, the Medicines Agency has just authorized, a few days ago, another test concerning Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The president does not hide her joy.
“We are at a historic moment in the life of the Telethon, we will give hope.
And we all need it.
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