A fitting tribute to a fundraising giant – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Not everyone found Jerry Lewis funny. Some even found him offensive. But no one can deny the impact he had oncomedy and film over a career that stretched from his early childhood almost until his death Sunday at 91.

For 45 years,Lewis played another role many people remember at least as well ashis long list oflight comedies and occasional dramatic parts.

Lewis' annual Muscular Dystrophy Associationtelethons weremarathon broadcasts that usually began on Labor Day weekendand ranas long as 211/2 hours. And, like his comedy, the shows were not to everyone's tastes. Some contended that his broadcast and similar fundraisers exploited young disease sufferers. But Lewis' affection for the young people he called Jerry's kids was genuine, and many, many people were moved to donate: Over the years, Lewis raised more than $2billion for research into treatment for muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

We are deeply saddened by the death of humanitarian and MDA Telethon star and national chairman, Jerry Lewis, Northern Indiana MDA Executive Director Sonja Cronin said in an email Monday. MDA would not be the organization it is today if it were not for Jerry's tireless efforts on behalf of 'his kids.' His enthusiasm for finding cures for neuromuscular disease was matched only by his unyielding commitment to see the fight through to the end.

After Lewis retired from the telethon in 2010, the tradition quickly began to fade. But the money Lewis raised for research has yielded results, and hope. Drugs for treatment of two types of muscular dystrophy were approved by the FDA last year.

In Fort Wayne, the MDA's60th annual Fill the Boot campaign begins Thursday morning, when more than 300 firefighters will station themselves at city intersections to ask motorists for donations. Donate to fight muscular dystrophy, to honor those firefighters' heroic efforts and to honor Jerry Lewis' unselfish contribution.

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A fitting tribute to a fundraising giant - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette