Great advances in diagnostics, esp. pre-natal. Great progress in helping patients and their families deal with these horrible diseases. Unfortunately a cure (as in having the disease and then not having it anymore) is still several decades away.

god willing, many more people will give to this cure and Jerry Lewis for the work he has done over these 43 years if only we had more people recognize this terrific sign of love for all the children who suffer from it.

God Bless Jerry Lewis

43 years ago we built the house we live in, and we had atradition, that is to watch jerry lewis on the maraton and
invite an aunt and uncle to celebrate and participate in the giving for Jerry Lewis's kids. They passed on and so did the tradition. I realize that we should start it again because it is a blessed thing to do. God Bless You Jerry Lewis this is a great thing that you tirelessy do. Love
Terry

Yeah, I was a little taken back by Brad's comments too. Seems like a very ignorant thing to say.

the saddness of this is how long mr, lewis has had to do this and while progress is being made we still lack the
right answers to easy the pain of families dealing with ms
in their loved ones. brad you probably have a wealth of knowledge but lack some insight intothis one. mr lewis
hose to dedicate his life to ms when he encountered a
child of an associate of his struck with ms. this child passed over and he kept his promise to the family.

for all who deal with this daily my prayers and thoughts
as with you. god bless and let us all ask the a fast
cure for this horrid disease. also when it comes down to it 65 million is a drop inthe bucket this may cover
research expenses for 7 months. research today is
beyond our fiscal understanding. one day there will be an
answer and i hope we all live to see it in mr. lewis' lifetime.

Brad:

As a father of a mentally and physcially disabled child (non-MDA) I find your comments particularly dumb and hurtful. Just because you have been fortunate enough to never had to deal with watching a child fail to reach milestone after milestone or watch them physically fall apart, does not give you the right to say that the MDA telethon should go to something else. What Jerry Lewis is doing, is a wonderful thing and he helps so many families dealing with this horrible disease.

I suggest you get a clue and educate yourself or better yet, get another profession, one that doesnt involve interacting with the public.

If you want to know what it is like being the father of a disabled child, check out my blog and maybe you will sing a different tune.
www.olegrabinovich.blogspot.com

**"Why can't next year's donations go towards fighting cancer or some other charity?"

R E A L L Y ??? Some times it's hard to believe the things I read that are written by educated people!

Joyce, I am so sorry for your loss! I can't imagine it!

When I was a kid I remember watching every year and then spending the day trudging around my neighborhood with a coffee can asking for money. My neighbors got so used to it that they actually stopped giving to the telethon because they knew me or my sisters would be knocking at their door. Then my dad would drive us to the local fish bowl and if we were really lucky we might make it on tv during a station break.

Today my family laughs at me that I sit and watch it like I do. I hope that I can instill in my children the spirit of giving that my parents did me, MDA or not.

Yes Cancer and other charities need money but Brad, Jerry didn't pick them, he picked MD and that's what his goal is, one day a year he asks for a little time and a little money.

Oh and Brad... God willing those scientists will come up with a cure for muscular dystrophy some day. Which is an easy name that covers MANY MANY different diseases. Don't you think that when that happens that research/cure will help many people, even those who do not have muscular dystrophy??

One day very long ago I asked my dad why he gave so much to the telethon, and with tears in his eyes he said "Because I have 5 children who can run" He died of colon cancer 4 years ago at the age of 54. But I'd never blame Jerry for not sharing the wealth!

Having lost three brothers and my only child (a son) to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, I cannot adequately explain how much this annual telethon helps. It is not only research that benefits. It is also the clinics, the doctors, physical therapists, the equipment provided. Wheelchairs, braces, lifts, ramps, all benefit the children that need them desperately.