Enjoying a few days at the Lake?
A Bar-B-Q in the back yard?
Raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)?
The latter is how I have spent my last 12 Labor Day holidays. My family and I began volunteering when I was only 7 years of age, at the Jerry Lewis M.D.A. Labor Day Telethon.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a non-profit organization that raises funds to eradicate neuromuscular diseases. In addition to research, MDA also funds services to individuals and their family’s affected by one of the 43 muscle wasting diseases. One of the most popular programs offered by MDA is their Summer Camp for children affected by the diseases.
The MDA Telethon began in 1965 in New York, and was soon syndicated throughout the nation. The local St. Louis Telethon now raises well over 2.3 million dollars, all of which stays in the metropolitan area to fund research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Jerry Lewis became MDA’s key spokesperson in 1965, immediately following the first Telethon. Lewis was a popular funny man, actor, and producer prior to becoming MDA’s number one volunteer. Lewis has yet to reveal why he became involved, however it is assumed that he made a personal connection with a child affected by a neuromuscular disease.
All adults and Children affected by one of the many muscle-wasting diseases affectionately refer to themselves as Jerry’s kids. While MDA provides services to all, one of the most popular is the MDA Summer Camp for kids aged 6-17. This camp, provided free of charge, allows kids with all abilities a great camping experience with their peers. Local news anchor, and Telethon host, Mike Bush, recently portrayed the camp in a recent story titled “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
Bush’s most recent set of stories portray a multitude of issues, from how a young boy was diagnosed with a form of Muscular Dystrophy, to the advances in research being made to find a cure for these diseases. This series is being featured on News Channel 5 in an effort to raise awareness for, and to promote, the Telethon. The stories will be airing Monday, August 25th, through Friday, August 29th at 10:30 pm on News Channel 5. All stories will be posted for viewing as they are published to News Channel 5’s video library.
The 2008 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon will take place August 31st through September 1st, at Grants Farm, and televised live only on News Channel.
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