MDA TELETHON AIRS THIS WEEKEND

Local television station KFVS12 will broadcast its 20th annual Jerry Lewis Telethon Monday from Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse in Cape Girardeau.

The telethon benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Locally, it will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m.

Segments from Lowe's will be hosted by news anchors Mary Ann Maloney and Dave Courvoisier. Segments also will be broadcast from the Carbondale, Ill., Lowe's store with KFVS12 reporter Lisa Crane and weekend anchor Chris Cannon.

Proceeds from the telethon benefit a variety of MDA services at clinics nationwide, including the pediatric and adult MDA clinics at St. Francis Medical Center.

Rene Goodman, Cape Girardeau program coordinator for MDA, said about 300 area people are affected by muscular dystrophy, and she encourages people to participate in the telethon.

"The Jerry Lewis telethon is definitely one of the very largest fund-raising events that the country has and has been for 35 years," Goodman said.

"So not only are you helping your neighbors, but you're also getting entertained by national entertainers of all genres. It's a very entertaining show; it's the variety show of the year."

Entertainers featured on the telethon include singer Christine Aguilera, television actor Dennis Franz, film actor Jack Lemmon and "Who Wants to be Millionaire?" host Regis Philbin speaking from the set of the popular quiz show.

Comedians who will appear on the show include Kevin Meaney, Wayne Brady, Max Alexander, Bob Zany and Diane Ford.

Local segments primarily will feature check donations to MDA from groups or organizations that participated in fund raisers throughout the year.

Firefighters from Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and western Kentucky will present checks from their August "Fill the Boot" campaigns, which are one of the MDA's largest fund raisers, Goodman said.

Other donors will appear on the local segments, including day care children who raised money through "hop-a-thons" and employees of area truck stops, gas stations and convenience stores that sponsored campaigns, Goodman said.