Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 7, 1993 TAG: 9309070034
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Short
"Let somebody come to me and tell me what I do ain't good stuff," a jubilant Lewis said as the tote board registered a final figure of $46,014,922 on Monday.
"That's America talking," Lewis said.
Another $36,849,732 was donated by corporate sponsors, telethon spokesman Jim Brown said.
Lewis ended the 21 1/2-hour telethon by singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" - a song he says has been requested often by his "kids."
Dozens of celebrities took the stage at telethon headquarters on the Las Vegas Strip, and others performed live from New York City, Los Angeles and Branson, Mo. Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Norm Crosby, Mel Tillis and Wayne Newton were among those who performed.
Lewis had set the tone at the start of the annual Labor Day Telethon Sunday night when he promised his audience: "We are gonna beat this."
Physicians involved in the battle against 40 neuromuscular diseases were on hand to outline new medical breakthroughs.
The show focused on success stories like Marlana Kirk.
"My wheelchair is a thing of the past," said Kirk, who was near death from muscular dystrophy 15 years ago. "It sits in my parents' garage and gathers dust."
Kirk, from Kernersville, N.C., was saved when doctors tried a blood plasma exchange process that switches bad blood for good. The procedure, developed by MDA-funded research, saved her life.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.