“After raising funds of over 46.2 million euros in 2020, this year we aim to exceed 50 million”. This is the goal that Alessandro Betti, fundraising director of the Telethon Foundation, chaired by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, anticipates at Sole-24 Ore. «There are two new features – continues the director -. The extraordinary importance that scientific research has acquired in these pandemic years. Last year, during the second lockdown, the fundraising record was broken. The second is that voluntary donations have increased and, above all, regular donors because many people are understanding that a country that does not invest in the future is a country that has no future “. There are approximately 130 thousand regular donors while the amount offered is on average twenty euros per month.
Three thousand squares for research
For this year’s Marathon the slogan was chosen: “Research gives, gives for research”. From Sunday 12 December and the following weekend, 18 and 19, scientific research on rare genetic diseases can be supported in over 3 thousand squares throughout Italy by purchasing the Chocolate Hearts, exclusively produced with quality ingredients from the Turin-based Caffarel, distributed by the volunteers of the Telethon Foundation, Uildm, Avis, Anffas, Unpli, Action Cattolica and in newsstands adhering to the campaign. Furthermore, from tomorrow it will be possible to order the Chocolate Heart online on the website www.telethon.it.
Sunday Marathon at the start
On Sunday the week of solidarity with the traditional Telethon Foundation Marathon will begin on Rai networks and many events to support scientific research on rare genetic diseases. Sunday in prime time on Rai 1, the “Christmas Party” will be broadcast, then the marathon will continue with an ideal relay of the most important conductors on the three Rai networks, on the Radio Rai networks and on the RaiPlay platform. The 2020 edition of the Rai marathon allowed to raise 46.2 million. Thanks to those who donated, extraordinary results have been achieved that are improving lives and treating children all over the world with gene therapy. “Still many other results will come if all the supporters of the Telethon Foundation continue to make their presence felt with donations and concrete actions, to help researchers develop treatments for an ever-increasing number of genetic diseases” remarked Betti. For example, 15 rare diseases are targeted by researchers at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for gene therapy (SR-Tiget). For 2 of these drugs approved in Europe have been tested and for another 3 they are in the clinical development phase or the therapies are already administered to patients.
2,720 projects have been funded since 1990
Other centers engaged in research are the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine of Pozzuoli and the Telethon Dulbecco Institute. Since 1990, 2,720 projects have been financed with over 592 million euros. The solidarity number 45510 is active until the end of the month for donations via SMS from mobile phones or landlines. There are also donations by credit card of the Visa, MasterCard and American Express circuits. The companies that support with various fundraising initiatives are: Bofrost, Bnp Paribas Cardif, Cnh Industrial, Esselunga, Farmacie UniClub, Ferrarelle, Findomestic Banca Gruppo BNP Paribas, Italo, Sofidel, Telesia, Acea Group, Villari Group and Vivi Energia descend in the field with various fundraising initiatives. DHL is the official carrier of the square campaign with the Chocolate Hearts.