Jerry Lewis announces this years MDA Telethon will be his last

[WI_DEM]

TUCSON, Ariz., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One of the world's greatest humanitarians of all time, Jerry Lewis has announced he's retiring as host of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon. "As a labor of love, I've hosted the annual Telethon since 1966 and I'll be making my final appearance on the show this year by performing my signature song, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. I'll continue to serve MDA as its National Chairman – as I've done since the early 1950's. I'll never desert MDA and my kids."

Having banked some 900 hours of live television time encouraging America to help fuel worldwide research seeking treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases, while simultaneously enabling MDA to provide unparalleled medical and health care services through its national network of some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics, Lewis today confirmed, "It's time for an all new Telethon era. This year's six hour prime-time Telethon on September 4th will be spectacular and I'm thrilled to be part of it. We're so close to treatments that it's absolutely vital for everyone to tune in and make a generous donation. America has always found a way each year to give me that just one dollar more to help my kids."

MDA President and CEO Gerald C. Weinberg said, "As MDA continues the growth Jerry Lewis has done so much to inspire, all of us who've been privileged to work beside him, and the hundreds of thousands throughout the world affected by the myriad of muscle diseases MDA battles, will acknowledge in our hearts forever the unrivaled role Jerry has played in our lives and the lives of all Americans. We're deeply honored that Jerry Lewis will continue as MDA's National Chairman and we're profoundly grateful for everything he has done and is doing for the Association."

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/youll-never-walk-alone-jerry-lewis-to-make-his-final-telethon-appearance-121876728.html

[Poll_Blind]

1. Jerry Lewis is an amazing guy and a class act. His selfless dedication to...

...helping children with muscular dystrophy should serve as an inspiration to every celebrity, every public figure, about how to take stardom use it to help the world be a better place.

And, if you haven't seen it, you should watch him and Robert DeNiro in The King of Comedy which is, IMO, one of the most under-rated movies that either of them has made.

PB

[Rainbowreflect]

14. And not just children.

MDA has helped my husband with medical bills, braces, and other assistance. I don't know what we would do without MDA.
Thanks Jerry and God bless you!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sharp_stick]

3. Yeah I know

This totally fucks up my TV weekend every year too.

:sarcasm: simply because some people need to see it to believe it and :freak: cause something doesn't smell right. Maybe it was just the way it was written?

[Brickbat]

8. Yep, I came out and slammed it.

Others in the disabled community slam the telethon for its approach as well, and disability rights protesters go after him every year. I agree with them. :shrug:

[NotThisTime]

4. You think those with muscular dystophies see this as a pity fest?

How about seeing these people who live life to their fullest potential while living with a muscular dystrophy, instead of thinking these people go around pitying themselves knowing it will kill them eventually?

Course if we had a descent medical system in this country we wouldn't have to rely on organizations like the MDA to help those living with a MD.

[Brickbat]

6. Knowing some who do, yes, I do think some people with disabilities see this as a pity fest that

sets back disabled rights. That's why it's been protested the past few years.

[NotThisTime]

12. Well maybe those you know ought to take a lesson from Mattie Stepanek then, the people I know do

[lightningandsnow]

19. I have a friend who was born with a form of muscular dystrophy...

and she really doesn't like the MDA telethon at all. So yeah, those people *do* exist.

[dionysus]

5. you can just smell the liberal compassion oozing from that post...

[Brickbat]

9. Better up my Shower to Shower, I guess.

:shrug:

[hlthe2b]

10. Language, approaches and attitudes change over time...

While much about Lewis and the telethon may be cringe inducing for some, I do honor him for his work and absolutely believe his intentions to be the best. That he has never stepped away from this cause in all of these decades gives him a really wide berth of protection against criticism IMO--even as I acknowledge there are changing sensitivities.

[Lynx]

7. Jerry Lewis is still alive?

But Dean Martin is dead. Isn't he?

[msanthrope]

11. This site is very useful--

http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Quitter!

:mad:






/s

[Matariki]

15. I'm pretty sure I'm living in a 'matrix'-like holograph. Or possibly a time warp

Because I *distinctly* remember Jerry Lewis dying some years ago.

Does that mean the creepy guys in suits will now be showing up at my door?

[Poll_Blind]

16. No, it's not you- he totally died. But the robot he was replaced by was just as...

...gracious and giving and so we've all sort of mutually agreed to informally let the deception continue.

PB

[Matariki]

17. LOL

although a time warp might be more personally useful.

[lightningandsnow]

18. A lot of folks with disabilities have spoken out against the telethon and the charity model.

This is an old article, but still a good read: http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/jerry92.htm

That being said, I do also recognize that the MDA has given a lot of concrete assistance to people with disabilities. So I can see the MDA telethon as a means to an end. However, I can't support something that makes people see people with disabilties as "less than".