What are those Téléthon signs I’m seeing everywhere in France?

In late autumn France witnesses the spontaneous propagation of two species: wild mushrooms and Telethon signs. Every other village and town will hold all manner of fundraising events on December 7th and 8th, from sponsored walks to sophisticated dinner-dance soirées as the whole of France comes together to raise funds for charity.

At the beginning of December since 1987 French television channel 2 with the support of other TV and radio broadcaster hold a 30-hour fundraising variety show, an annual Téléthon, for the muscular dystrophy charity AFM, L’Association Française contre les Myopathies. Donations are made by telephone or at the Téléthon’s website www.telethon.fr, or on mobile web portals, as well as through SMS messaging.

The Telethon 2012 takes place on the 7th and 8th of December. Last year they raised 86.119.425 euros for the charity.