Area shows its generosity in MDA telethon

It was satisfying to hear that the Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual Labor Day telethon exceeded last year's fund-raising total by nearly $20,000.

Residents of Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and parts of Kentucky pledged $381,902. Nationally, the telethon raised $56.8 million, up almost $4 million from a year ago.

The money will help pay expenses for those who live with the insidious disease.

Perhaps the most amazing part is that the economy is stagnant and the financial news is sour, but people still opened their wallets for this important event.

Thanks goes to KFVS-TV for carrying the telethon, all the volunteers who manned the phones and performed other duties and especially to those who made pledges. It's important now for everyone who made pledges to write checks and send them in.

Next year promises to do even more for people with muscular dystrophy.