The TV3 Marathon Foundation was created by the Catalan Broadcasting Corporation (CCMA) in 1996 to sponsor, together with TV3, the annual telethon [La Marató de TV3] and raise public awareness of a given disease each year through a massive communication and advertising campaign. The Foundation manages the funds raised from the telethon and related activities to fund scientific research into diseases that are currently incurable.
The Foundation allocates the funds raised by the telethon to various research projects. These projects are thoroughly audited and monitored by the Medical Technology and Research Evaluation Agency to ensure full public accountability.
CCMA – 3 members including CCMA’s Director General, who is President of the Board; TVC – 2 including the Director of TVC, who is First Vice President; Catalunya Ràdio – 1, the Director; and 1 member from each of the following three institutions – the Department of Health; the Department for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise; and the Department of Social Action and Citizenship.
One of the functions of the Board of Trustees is to study proposals made by the Advisory Committee and decide which disease will be covered by the annual The TV3 Marathon Foundation. It is also responsible for deciding which research projects merit telethon funds.
The Advisory Committee comprises representatives from the country’s leading scientific and medical institutions and meets regularly at the Coordinator’s behest. The Coordinator is designated by the Department of Health and holds the position of Second Vice President on the Board of Trustees.
The Advisory Committee’s functions include advising the Board of Trustees on which disease should be covered by the The TV3 Marathon Foundation, approving the rules of the public competition for presenting projects, and presenting the Board with proposals for the allocation of the funds raised.
The Foundation’s Executive Director puts forward initiatives and activities to the Board of Trustees in pursuance of the Foundation’s mission. The Executive Director carries out the decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
The Foundation allocates the funds raised by the telethon to various research projects. These projects are thoroughly audited and monitored by the Medical Technology and Research Evaluation Agency to ensure full public accountability.
Since its first edition in 1992, the annual telethon campaigns have covered (figures in brackets refer to the year and sum raised): Leukemia (1992: €1,230,128); Down’s Syndrome (1993: €2,352,669); Cancer (1994: €3,035,331 and 2004: €8,622,000); Cardiovascular Diseases (1995: €2,040,443); Neurological Diseases (1996: €4,107,795), Hereditary Genetic Diseases (1997: €4,172,090), Diabetes (1998: €3,945,421), Organ Transplants (1999: €4,685,110), Mental Disorders (2000: €4,511,808), AIDS (2001: €4,653,496); Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (2002: €4,518,315); Chronic Respiratory Diseases (2003: €4,279,265); Alzheimer (2005: €7.145.000 ); and Chronic Pain (2006).
Over 1,500 scientists have received funds to help them continue their research.Governing bodies
The Foundation’s governing, administrative, and decision-making body is the Board of Trustees. It comprises nine members as follows:CCMA – 3 members including CCMA’s Director General, who is President of the Board; TVC – 2 including the Director of TVC, who is First Vice President; Catalunya Ràdio – 1, the Director; and 1 member from each of the following three institutions – the Department of Health; the Department for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise; and the Department of Social Action and Citizenship.
One of the functions of the Board of Trustees is to study proposals made by the Advisory Committee and decide which disease will be covered by the annual The TV3 Marathon Foundation. It is also responsible for deciding which research projects merit telethon funds.
The Advisory Committee comprises representatives from the country’s leading scientific and medical institutions and meets regularly at the Coordinator’s behest. The Coordinator is designated by the Department of Health and holds the position of Second Vice President on the Board of Trustees.
The Advisory Committee’s functions include advising the Board of Trustees on which disease should be covered by the The TV3 Marathon Foundation, approving the rules of the public competition for presenting projects, and presenting the Board with proposals for the allocation of the funds raised.
The Foundation’s Executive Director puts forward initiatives and activities to the Board of Trustees in pursuance of the Foundation’s mission. The Executive Director carries out the decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
