Free Republic

Trashing the muscular dystrophy telethon is like dissing Christmas. It ticks people off. Even if the offender is a former Jerry's Kid. Laura Hershey was born with a form of MD and spent her poster childhood appearing helpless at fundraisers. She became a celebrity in the '70s as the face of the condition in Colorado. She remembers being a prop in the TV studio that was broadcasting local parts of the telethon. "To whole families driving by to drop their contributions in a giant fishbowl outside the studio; to the camera's blinking red light; to the anchorman who squatted next...

LAS VEGAS - Jerry Lewis' annual Labor Day telethon raised a record $61 million to fight muscular dystrophy, bolstered by a huge donation from a group of firefighters and the lack of a major hurricane before the show. "We did good," said Lewis, 80, looking choked up as the final figure, $61,013,855, flashed across the tote board Monday. "I can only thank you from the bottom of my heart for so many little people that can't thank you, can't show their appreciation in any way." Leading the contributors was the International Association of Fire Fighters, which donated a record $23.5...