<div id="subtitle">Organizers: Nearly $60.5M in contributions, pledges in this year's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon</div><div><p>Despite the tough economy, officials with the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon say contributions and pledges from this year's Labor Day event totaled nearly $60.5 million.</p><p>Officials say the funds will allow the Muscular Dystrophy Association to continue funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases.</p><p>Lewis, the Tucson-based MDA's national chairman, thanked the American people for their generosity Monday.</p><p>He says that even though the total was down from last year's record $65 million, it was an amazing accomplishment considering the state of the nation's economy.</p><p>The 44th annual telethon originated for the fourth consecutive year from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=58280164&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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