JERRY LEWIS TELETHON TO AIR ON LABOR DAY; VOLUNTEERS ARE BEING SOUGHT

The Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, which will air on KFVS-12 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Labor Day, will originate local segments from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau.

This year's telethon will be hosted by news anchor Mary Ann Maloney and sports director Randy Ray. Some segments will be hosted by KFVS news anchor Lisa Crane and meteorologist Charlie Neese.

Jerry Lewis, MDA's national chairman, will take a leave from his starring role in the London stage production of "Damn Yankees" to host the 32nd annual Labor Day broadcast for MDA.

Entertainment will include Alabama, Crystal Gayle, Gary Morris, Ricky Skaggs, Bon Jovi, Doobie Brothers, Mannheim Steamroller, Wynton Marsalis, and Leslie Uggams.

Actor Tom Poston from the "Bob Newhart Show" and his wife, Kay, will join Lewis to describe their battle with the disease.

Proceeds from the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat 40 neromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

The association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual and private contributions.

Services are provided through some 230 MDA clinic nationwide, including the MDA clinic at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Volunteers are needed immediately for various duties during the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.

"Volunteers are needed in all kinds of functions," said Ken Lucy, MDA's regional Coordinator and Telethon executive producer.

"Those who wish to help can volunteer all day or any three-hour part of the day."

To register as a volunteer, call 1-800-455-1234.