MDA telethon raises record amount in Central Illinois
Monday, September 3, 2007 11:24 PM CDT
BLOOMINGTON — It was another record-breaking year for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The 42nd annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon to benefit MDA raised $63.8 million nationwide in donations and pledges. Last year, MDA raised $61 million during the telethon.
Central Illinois efforts collected about $414,000, the highest total for the area yet, said Melissa Chumbley, program coordinator for MDA’s Heart of Illinois District in Peoria. She did not have the exact figure from last year’s show but said it was less than this year’s goal of $400,000.
“We were very pleased with the community,” Chumbley said. “Everyone seems to give a little more than they did before.”
The Central Illinois region encompasses 10 counties across the state, including Peoria and McLean counties, Chumbley said.
All of that money will stay locally to fund clinic services, medical equipment such as wheelchairs and leg braces, a summer camp at Lake Bloomington and research for treatments and a cure for the disease, she said.
Bloomington and Normal firefighters also contributed $10,000 to the MDA total from their fundraising efforts during the Labor Day parade in Bloomington on Monday and from earlier collections at Kroger in August, Chumbley said.
Entertainer Jerry Lewis hosted the 21{–hour show from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.
The Peoria segments of the telecast were broadcast from Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino and showcased different families in the community and local sponsors, Chumbley said.
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