” We count on you ! » The 37th edition of the Telethon, which began Friday evening and ended in the middle of the night on Saturday, recorded more than 41 million euros in donations this Saturday early evening, according to the AFM-Téléthon association.
The counter showed 41.579 million euros at 7 p.m., the organizers said in a press release.
30 hours of live television
In 2022, the Telethon collected 90.8 million euros, the best result since 2016, after two years disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like every year, events were organized in several cities in France, the event mobilized France Télévisions for 30 hours of live broadcast, and the 2023 edition has the singer Vianney as its sponsor.
In addition to field collections, pledges of donations by telephone (3637), by Internet (téléthon.fr), a “gaming” marathon and a raffle were on the menu.
The official dance of the Paris 2024 Olympics revealed
The AFM (French Association against Myopathies) has dedicated some 58 million euros in 2022 to the research and development of new therapies. The Telethon product particularly targets rare diseases, 95% of which remain without treatment or even without diagnosis.
Beyond the research issues, the Telethon remains a unique event: this year it mobilized more than 200,000 volunteers and took place in more than 10,000 municipalities.
The 2023 edition made several nods to next summer’s Olympic Games, which will take place in Paris. With for example the “Official Dance” of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games revealed for the first time on television during the Telethon.