Jerry Lewis telethon collects $60.5M

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Despite the tough economy, officials with the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon say contributions and pledges from this year’s Labor Day event totaled nearly $60.5 million.

Officials say the funds will allow the Muscular Dystrophy Association to continue funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

Lewis, the Tucson-based MDA’s national chairman, thanked the American people for their generosity Monday.

He says that even though the total was down from last year’s record $65 million, it was an amazing accomplishment considering the state of the nation’s economy.