MDA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR JERRY LEWIS TELETHON

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association is seeking volunteers from the Cape Girardeau area to help with one of America's best-known Labor Day traditions, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, set to air Sept. 3-4 on some 200 stations nationwide.

Between now and Labor Day, volunteers are needed in many areas, including helping with the local Telethon broadcast on KFVS-TV, Channel 12. "It's critical that we enlist the support of hundreds of volunteers in Cape Girardeau and millions more across the country," said Jerry Lewis, MDA National Chairman. "Without volunteer help, we simply won't be able to do everything that needs to be done to make this year's Telethon a success for 'my kids.' Please get involved."

Volunteer activities include answering phones, coordinating food and drinks for Telethon workers, helping with pre-Telethon mailings, distributing posters to local businesses, transporting supplies, greeting guests, escorting sponsors, tallying pledge slips, addressing envelopes, videotaping and logging the show, manning a clean-up committee, and much more.

Along with star Jerry Lewis and local station emcees, celebrity volunteers include Telethon anchor Ed McMahon, "Entertainment Tonight's" Jann Carl, broadcasting legend Casey Kasem, comedian Norm Crosby and Cynthia Garrett, host of NBC "Later."

In addition, MDA needs volunteers to assist with thousands of Telethon-related special events in the area and nationwide.

Volunteers are also needed year-round for myriad activities to bolster public support and help MDA reduce administrative expenses. Possible duties (See 101 Ways Volunteers Can Help MDA attachment) include taking tickets, helping with security, arranging food contributions, staffing MDA booths, delivering refreshments to fire fighters during "Fill the Boot" campaigns, visiting people with neuromuscular diseases, becoming a "pen pal," and coordinating educational mailings.

Local businesses can help, too, said Melody Anderson, MDA district director, by sponsoring portions of the local broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, enhancing contributions with 44 matching minute" Telethon segments, or working with MDA staff to create a Telethon-related special event.

"Volunteers are the critical link in MDA's lifesaving mission," said Anderson. "We always need help, whether it's preparing or delivering packets for Shamrocks Against Dystrophy or HopaThons, organizing holiday parties or outings for MDA families, greeting jailbirds' during MDA Lock-Ups, serving as counselors during MDA summer camps, or transporting equipment and supplies." Anderson added that those with specialized skills can help as auctioneers, or by taking publicity photos, preparing newsletters, doing accounting, giving presentations, painting signs, or coordinating art for MDA's Art Collection. Most volunteers need to be at least 16 years old.

MDA is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases affecting more than a million Americans. The Association receives no government grants, nor does it seek fees from the families it serves. MDA is the first voluntary health agency to be honored with the American Medical Association Lifetime Achievement Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity."

For more informationor to volunteer, call the local MDA office in Cape Girardeau at 3354400 or MDA national headquarters at 800-572-1717. Information about MDA programs and research advances is also available on MDA's Web site at www.mdausa.org.