Philip Ressel, 10, of Cape Girardeau knows his job won't be easy but he is up to the challenge.

Ressel will be the area's Muscular Dystrophy Goodwill Ambassador during the 1996 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. The 16th annual telethon airs from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 on KFVS TV.

"Having MD is bad, but God sends a lot of good people," said Philip, who was diagnosed with MD at 9. "I'm glad I'm doing this because it helps raise money for an MD cure for me and all the kids."

Philip, the son of Stephen and Sandra Ressel, is certain scientists will find a cure, but knows they still need help. The fund-raising telethon provides some of the financial help for those scientists.

Don Diamond of Cape Girardeau will receive the 1996 Muscular Dystrophy Personal Achievement Award during the local telethon broadcasts. Diamond, 28, was diagnosed with Beckers muscular dystrophy 16 years ago. He shared the diagnosis publicly last year during the telethon.

"The more I do each day to help MDA, the more open I become with it," Diamond said.

The telethon raises local money to help fund national medical research, treatments and cures for neuromuscular diseases. Television anchors and reporters at KFVS will host the local segments.

The telethon raises about $300,000 annually.

While MDA volunteers are gearing up for their fund-raising efforts next week, the March of Dimes is ending its WalkAmerica campaign.

The March of Dimes set a record last month for its fund-raising efforts. The group raised $254,996 in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Southwest Kentucky. The money will be used to fund research projects for birth defects and infant deaths.