Labor Day Telethon

My first husband, Dennis Dean, had Juvenile Spinal Atrophy which fell under the 'umbrella' of Muscular Dystrophy. The Muscular Dystrophy Society helped with several things for Dennis over his life. We would go yearly to the University of Utah for a physical at no cost. It's been so long, I don't remember what all they provided, but they helped with the wheelchairs and the lift for the bathtub.

For several years in Pocatello, he and I helped with the annual Labor Day Telethon with Jerry Lewis. Of course, Jerry wasn't in Pocatello. This was a huge national event. We worked getting volunteers to answer the phones when donors called, among other things. Dennis was always interviewed several times during the nearly 24 hours we were on the air. We usually were given a hotel room where the event was held, so we try to get some rest between the times we we would be 'live'.

I went for a brief interview to the first telethon after Dennis' death, but couldn't bring myself to help much and I never went again. As far as I know, there is no longer a telethon.


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