MDA, Jerry Lewis and Me

This weekend, on a TV set or computer near you, it’s time for the 45th Annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
Jerry began the Labour Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1966, over one station in New York. This year, the live show from Las Vegas, stretching some 21½ hours, will be carried by the 170-station ‘Love Network.’
The goal? To find a cure for muscular dystrophy.
The show is varied. He introduces some of the best entertainment of today by singers, dancers, comedians ... bound to appeal to family members of all ages.
Jerry chats and trades quips with his corporate fundraisers, such as the International Association of Firefighters, whose members have collected millions of dollars each year. Those coins / bills you put ‘in the boot’ at those 'checkpoints' add up, and the funds stay in your area.
The local stations in their turn show local groups and individuals making their donations; young children and many other folks raise money to help ‘Jerry’s kids.’
There is also an education component, which illustrates the research programs which are funded my MDA.
But, by far, the biggest star of all is the Tote Board, which keeps a running tally of the pledges made by viewers on the phone or on the Internet.
The aim of each Telethon for Jerry, the MDA National Chairman, is to raise "one dollar more" than the previous year's amount, which last year was $60.5 million.
The MDA site footnote reads,
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association, provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
If you know me personally, you will recall that I was diagnosed -- some 50 years ago! -- with a neuro-muscular diseace called ‘Charcot-Marie-Tooth.’
You can learn about it by checking out the C.M.T. web page.
NOW YOU KNOW the connections among Jerry Lewis, the MDA Telethon and me.