Karine Ferry: her moving promise to Grégory Lemarchal just before his death, 16 years ago - Page 2

A HAPPY COUPLE AFFECTED BY ILLNESS For two years, the couple Karine Ferri and Gregory Lemarchal fascinated fans. She, who comes from the reality TV show, Bachelor, Single Gentleman, he who won the Star Academy final… Both have evolved under the eye of the cameras. Their relationship then appeared solid and happy, but a dark side spoiled their relationship: the young man's illness. It was in 2007 that Grégory Lemarchal breathed his last. The young man, suffering from cystic fibrosis, died at the age of 23. Since then, his fans, family and loved ones have continued to pay tribute to him. This is also the case for Karine Ferri. In a relationship with the singer for two years, she made him a promise on her deathbed. For two years, the couple Karine Ferri and Gregory Lemarchal fascinated fans. She, who comes from the reality TV show, Bachelor, Single Gentleman, he who won the Star Academy final… Both have evolved under the eye of the cameras. Their relationship then appeared solid and happy, but a dark side spoiled their relationship: the young man's illness.

KARINE FERRI’S PROMISE TO GRÉGORY LEMARCHAL Grégory Lemarchal had to fight against cystic fibrosis all his life. It is a fatal genetic disease that mainly attacks the respiratory tract and digestive system. After years of struggle, he succumbed to respiratory arrest while waiting for a lung transplant that never arrived. However, before dying, he made Karine Ferri promise something moving. The young man wanted his partner to send a message to all people affected or not by the disease. Thus, Gregory Lemarchal made Karine Ferri promise to continue the fight and help make cystic fibrosis more visible. For 16 years, the favorite host of viewers has never betrayed her promise. With the family of the singer of the title Écris l'histoire, the wife of Yoann Gourcuff, created the Grégory Lemarchal Association which fights daily for the memory of the man she attended from 2005 to 2007. And if in recent years, the 41-year-old mother has become more discreet, letting parents manage and represent the association on TV sets, she continues to be one of the spokespersons for the fight against cystic fibrosis. Also read: Karine Ferri opens the doors of her Breton house, a haven of peace where she lives with Yoann Gourcuff and their children Star Academy: this famous singer soon to be a singing teacher? “We talked about it a lot” Grégory Lemarchal: these photos taken just before his death which upset his parents THE LAST WORDS OF GRÉGORY LEMARCHAL BEFORE DIEING If the story of Grégory Lemarchal continues, again and again, to carry this fight, it is also thanks to the numerous reports dedicated to him. Even more recently, it was a TV film to (re)discover his life, his music and his fight which touched TF1 viewers. Indeed, with the biopic entitled Why I Live, with Mickael Lumière in the role of the singer, was able to capture the very essence of his life.

The feature film was able to meet its audience and had great success with fans. However, as in many biopics, not all the scenes filmed are 100% faithful to reality. At least that’s what Lucie Bernardoni, her ex-comrade in the castle, explained. “Afterwards, it’s 90 minutes, it’s condensed, the message has to get across. The only certainty we have is that the message has gotten through,” she admitted. So, for 16 years, the message has been the same: we must fight against the disease. On his hospital bed, Grégory Lemarchal had a final thought for sick people: “Above all, tell them to never give up.” Strong and encouraging words which have become the very essence of the Grégory Lemarchal association.