November 17, 2003

ON EXPRESSING THANKS

In some ways, this has been a difficult year for MDA: MDA’s two most publicly recognizable representatives have faced serious health challenges. Yet we also have many reasons to be thankful.

Jerry Lewis

MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis, who’s been fighting pulmonary fibrosis – a debilitating lung disease – for two years, kept the spotlight off his own troubles while giving a magnificent performance as star of our 2003 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. Due in great part to Jerry’s passionate presence on the broadcast, the Telethon raised a phenomenal $60.5 million in pledges and contributions.

The physical strain took its toll, however, and after the Telethon Jerry began undergoing a more rigorous course of medical care. With proper care there’s reason to hope Jerry will able to recapture much of his former stamina and strength. And that’s something that I, along with Jerry’s legions of fans, can be genuinely thankful for.

	Mattie Stepanek

Of course, Jerry wasn’t the only hero on our 2003 Telethon. MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Mattie Stepanek was, once again, an indispensable part of the broadcast, although only a few months prior he’d undergone his own prolonged hospital stay. By Telethon time, it was deemed wise that Mattie be spared the grueling cross-country trip to CBS Television City in Los Angeles, so instead he joined the Telethon’s national broadcast live via satellite from MDA “Love Network” station WNUV-TV in Baltimore.

Following the Telethon, Mattie’s been making more frequent public appearances. Currently his schedule includes a speech at the United Nations in New York on Nov. 17 and a book signing at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 20.

Since undertaking the role in early 2002, Mattie has done such an extraordinary job as MDA National Goodwill Ambassador that we decided to take the nearly unprecedented step of asking him to assume the role for a third year. I’m pleased to say Mattie has graciously agreed to do so and will be representing our Association once again in 2004.

Both Jerry and Mattie have shown breathtaking courage throughout 2003, downplaying their own traumatic experiences while giving much of themselves to advance MDA’s mission to defeat neuromuscular diseases.

MDA is truly thankful – perhaps blessed is the better word – to have earned the devoted service of these two remarkable individuals.

With Thanksgiving shortly upon us, it’s a good time to express thanks for other things as well.

I’m grateful indeed for the countless people across the United States, including Puerto Rico, and in Canada who’ve contributed to the Telethon or have taken part in MDA fund-raising events throughout the year. Whether you’re a young person putting on an MDA carwash; a fire fighter filling the boot on a street corner; a business executive raising bail in an MDA Lock-Up; or a preschooler taking part in an educational MDA Hop-a-Thon program, you’re making a crucial difference to help “Jerry’s kids.”

Walter Anderson, with microphone, greets participants in the Parade of MDA Heroes at the Harley-Davidson birthday bash. At left are Alexis Villa and David Cogliano, who were featured in Harley-Davidson centennial materials.

I’m pleased by the enormous success of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, a 14-month multicity bash which culminated in Harley-Davidson’s hometown of Milwaukee over Labor Day Weekend. As a longtime MDA national sponsor, Harley-Davidson used this illustrious event as an occasion to raise funds for “Jerry’s kids” through a series of events and rides associated with the event. The final fund-raising total for MDA was over $7.2 million -- considerably in excess of Harley-Davidson’s original stated goal of $5 million. Thanks, Harley-Davidson.

I must also extend my warmest thanks to our other national sponsors. These truly outstanding companies and organizations provided remarkable levels of support to bolster MDA’s programs during 2003.

I’m grateful for the MDA clinic directors, MDA-funded scientific investigators and MDA staff who’ve labored year-round to make life better for those affected by progressive neuromuscular diseases. I’m glad that dozens of MDA clinical trials for various neuromuscular disorders are under way. I’m particularly grateful to the some 50 clinicians and scientists who convened in Tucson under the MDA banner on Sept. 28-30 for a conference on cardiomyopathy, a subject of crucial importance to many people with forms of muscular dystrophy.

I’m pleased indeed that we’ve had such a vigorous demand for our line of MDA holiday cards featuring images created by artists who have neuromuscular diseases.

On a similar note, I’m very happy with the continued success of the MDA Art Collection. Selected artworks from the Collection will be on display at the Northern Arizona University Art Museum in Flagstaff until Jan. 15. Kudos to the amazing artists – all of whom have neuromuscular diseases -- who continually expand our Collection with their accomplished visual creations.

A closing thought on the subject of gratitude that I’d like to share with all those who selflessly support MDA’s cause: Your help and support bring us closer to victory over neuromuscular diseases. That’s something we can be grateful for now, but it’s also something that future generations – children and adults -- will be particularly thankful for.

With every best wish...

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