Record Telethon: collected 31.5 million euros

2019-12-16T13:04:55.132Z

A record collection for the 26th Telethon Foundation marathon on RAI networks: € 31.5 million, which will be used to support scientific research on rare genetic diseases. 'I don't give up' (#nonmiarrendo) was the title of this year's campaign, the theme of the numerous initiatives. "A race of solidarity won above all by the Italians who have espoused the cause of the Telethon Foundation through the many donations but also taking the field firsthand becoming our volunteers". The satisfaction of the president of the Telethon Foundation Luca di Montezemolo is great. "This year, the involvement of individuals and associations has greatly increased," he said. "This has made it possible, among many initiatives, to hold banquets for fundraising in over 3000 Italian squares. Our thanks go to all those who they have supported and continue to do so ". Since 1990, Telethon has invested over 450 million euros in research, funded over 2,500 projects with over 1,500 researchers involved and more than 470 diseases studied. Thanks to Telethon therapies have been developed for some rare diseases previously considered incurable (Ada-Scid, metachromatic leukodystrophy and Wiskott Aldrich syndrome). In the last year, moreover, important progress has been made towards the application of new therapies for patients suffering from beta-thalassemia (genetic disease characterized by chronic anemia for which the only treatment to date is bone marrow transplantation) and hemophilia B (due to the defect of one of the factors of blood coagulation that causes spontaneous bleeding potentially lethal). (Source Adnkronos)