ANNUAL JERRY LEWIS MDA TELETHON MONDAY

Volunteers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association transformed the Show Me Center into telethon headquarters this weekend.

Local segments of the annual Jerry Lewis MDA telethon will be broadcast live from the Show Me Center on Monday. The telethon begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 6:30 p.m..

News anchors Mary-Ann Maloney and Randy Ray will host the program. More than 200 other stations across the country also will broadcast the national telethon.

"I'm always inspired by the giving nature of the people in the Heartland," Ray said. "Hosting the telethon gives me the chance to be part of that."

The telethon has been a Labor Day tradition in Cape Girardeau for 16 years.

"We're closer than ever to a cure for the diseases of muscular dystrophy," said Carla Fee, district director for MDA. "That's why the phone pledges are so important to us. Obviously, our dream is to someday have a Labor Day where there won't be a need for the MDA telethon."

Until that day arrives, MDA district offices hold the telethons to collect money for local programs, health services and research.

The MDA telethon raises about $300,000 annually.

Some of that money goes to help children like Philip Ressel, 10, of Cape Girardeau.

Ressel is the area's MDA Goodwill Ambassador during the telethon. He is the son of Stephen and Sandra Ressel.