Mika, a godfather “filled with hope”

The Telethon is an unmissable television event. This 38^e edition entitled “All builders” perfectly embodies the action carried out for thirty-seven years in terms of research and innovative therapies. In 2023, the famous counter displayed at the end of the issue nearly 81 million euros in pledges and the final collection amounted to nearly 93 million. With nearly thirty hours of air time, this unique television marathon will once again mobilize a large number of people and a very motivated sponsor, the singer Mika, whom we met.

You have already participated in the Telethon several times as a singer. How did you become a sponsor of this cause?

I have always appreciated that the Telethon represents something popular and noble at the same time. I was asked if I was interested. This year, I have time to devote myself to this, with good energy to really listen, to be able to really communicate and tell stories. So I accepted with great pleasure.

“I will take the time to humanize these stories which will be told with great candor.”

The concept of the Telethon saw the light of day in 1966 in the United States, at the initiative of one of your idols, the American comedian and actor, Jerry Lewis…

At the time, Jerry Lewis was on the air for 24 hours non-stop and he needed a little energy from time to time, so Lucy Ball, from the series “I love Lucy”, came to give him some energy. eat and Dean Martin give him a glass of whiskey. The latter also answered the phone. It made people dream and it remained in the memory and culture of Americans. The French Telethon is actually inspired by that of the United States. It was created in 1987 and the funds raised from the start exceeded those raised in the United States, it’s quite incredible. This represents, I think, the best part of French values. This idea of ​​the small donation which, collectively, can have enormous consequences underlines a kind of universality which is very important in French culture.

What should we expect from you? Which sponsor are you going to be?

I hope to live up to this mission, to be a good communicator, capable of telling the stories of these patients, their families, doctors and researchers. I will take the time to put emotion in its rightful place, to humanize these stories which will be told with great candor. I want to be the bridge between them and the public to help them.

How did you experience meeting the young ambassadors?

It filled me with hope. This may seem strange when we know certain stories like that of little Sacha who is a true miracle: after years of illness, a single injection “freed” him from the Duchenne muscular dystrophy from which he suffered. This little boy is an example of what was considered impossible until recently. And on the other side, there is a young teenager Félicie, who has no treatment. Her situation is complicated, and yet she responds to it with resistance, a way of looking at the world around her. This is remarkable and gives a lot of hope.

“At the beginning, we said that treatments, like Sacha’s, belonged to science fiction and today, it’s reality”

Have you also met the parents of patients?

I want to highlight the family, the entourage of each patient. Their importance is paramount. The French Association against Myopathies also seeks to support families, with additional support for them.

You also visited the Généthon. What have you learned?

I saw everyone’s enthusiasm. Researchers are aware of the immensity of the challenge they face. They have contagious energy. They know exactly what they want to do and gradually see concrete results. At the beginning, it was said that treatments, like Sacha’s, belonged to science fiction and today, it is reality.

You sang many times in the South-West but did you return there later?

I love your region. I often came to “hide” to recharge my batteries in a small house not far from Moliets-et-Maa, in the Landes. I find that you have places at home that are well suited to artists, which lend themselves to writing. It has everything: nature, history, food – I’m very greedy! –, good wine, a human, friendly temperament, which gives you room to express yourself.

From Friday November 29 at 6:45 p.m. to Saturday November 30 at 1:30 a.m., on France Télévisions channels.