35th Annual Telethon Raises a Record $54.6 Million

Jerry Lewis, bouncing back from health problems that sidelined him for most of last year’s Muscular Dystrophy Assn. telethon, raised a record $54.6 million during this year’s annual Labor Day weekend event.

Lewis, 74, and telethon anchor Ed McMahon cheered along with a studio audience after announcing the total Monday, which will go to fight neuromuscular diseases.

Lewis, fighting back tears, broke into his show’s trademark closing anthem: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

The 35th annual telethon, a 23-hour variety show of singing, dancing and fund-raising, was broadcast on nearly 200 television stations and was available in streaming video on the Internet. It ended Monday night.

The telethon surpassed last year’s mark of $53.1 million by $1.5 million. Lewis has promised to conduct the telethon each Labor Day until a cure is found for neuromuscular diseases.