The MDA Telethon 2010 has just been completed, and the Jerry Lewis telethon 2010 raised a stunning $58.9 million dollars. That’s an amazing accomplishment in a year where we’re still feeling the effects of the recession, and it gives you some hope for our country: If we can open our pocketbooks to benefit kids with muscular dystrophy even when times are tough, then we must be doing something right.

Celebrity dad Jerry Lewis, a father of seven, has been hosting the telethon for 45 years. Here’s everything you need to know about the telethon, including the record for most money ever raised, a definition of muscular dystrophy, which performers participated this year, what song Lewis signs off with each year, a brief Jerry Lewis bio and more.

* The MDA Telethon set a record two years ago when it raised $65 million, just a few days before the financial crisis really gripped this country.

* This year’s participants included Barry Manilow, pianist Michael Feinstein, singer Maureen McGovern, singer David Archuleta, Charo, comedian Carrot Top and Norm Crosby.

* The telethon lasted 21.5 hours.

* This was the first year a child opened the telethon, which began yesterday. MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali, an 11-year-old from Redlands, Calif., sang two songs.

* Lewis has been married twice. He had six sons, one of whom died last year, and one daughter. He is a spry 84 years old, and he is best known for his early partnership with Dean Martin. He has helped raise more than $2.4 billion for MDA research since the telethon’s inception.

* This year’s telethon was carried by more than 150 TV stations.

* Muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition that weakens the muscles. It can be an early- or late-onset disease and there are many different forms of it.

* Lewis closed out this year’s telethon by singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Source

Photo: Muscular Dystrophy Association

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