LOCAL JERRY LEWIS TELETHON RAISES $323,512

The local Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon conducted at Wal-Mart Monday raised $323,512 for Muscular Dystrophy Association research and services.

The local edition of the Jerry Lewis Telethon was held this year at Wal-Mart. While Ken Lucy, regional MDA coordinator, liked the elbow room the Show Me Center usually provided for the telethon, he likes the number of people who have stopped by while shopping.

"I think it's worked out real fine," Lucy said. "It's allowed us to interface with the public."

Nationally, the telethon raised a record $50,475,055 during 21 and a half hours of non-stop fund raising.

Lucy said the MDA was one of the best bargains in the store Monday. "MDA is the tops in the country, of large national health agencies, in the percentage of public funds that go into what they are intended for," he said.

Lucy said 78 cents of every dollar donated will be used for either research, patient care or education. He said the MDA sponsors local programs like a free summer camp in Illinois, free clinics, assistance in purchasing equipment like wheelchairs and support groups.

Lucy said one of MDA's projects is an information network that allows sufferers to contact other muscular dystrophy patients. He said being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy can be devastating. "We try to put them in touch with people who have been down that road before."

Lucy said local donations are transmitted to the national MDA Telethon about 30 minutes after they are received. He said the local telethon is a group effort that could not be accomplished without the help of Wal-Mart and KFVS-12.

Mary Ann Maloney, KFVS anchor person, has been doing the telethons for eight years. She said the television station has been holding them for 17 years. Each year, she said, the telethon has brought in more money for MDA.

Maloney said this year's goal was to surpass last year's $317,000. To accomplish this, the local telethon had to raise more than $100,000 in the last hour.

The local effort is held in two towns. Besides the Wal-Mart set up, two KFVS personalities were in Marion, Ill. Maloney said this attracts more people, some from as far away as Paducah, Ky.

The local telethon does not do its own entertainment. Maloney said mainly what she and Randy Ray tried to do was bring as many local muscular dystrophy stories to the public.

"We try to show what kind of difference MDA makes in people's lives," Maloney said.