Cause for celebration
Muscular Dystrophy
Association
LAS VEGAS — Thanks to an
all-star talent list headed by Celine Dion and 250,000
volunteers across the country, the Muscular Dystrophy
Association’s (MDA) Jerry
Lewis Labor Day Telethon set
a record in contributions and pledges, raising more
than $61 million Sept. 3-4, according to the MDA. The
funds benefit the MDA’s programs of research and
services to benefit people with neuromuscular diseases.
Lewis, 80, returned to star in the telethon despite
having had a heart attack in June. This year’s
show was dedicated to longtime MDA President and Chief
Executive Officer Robert Ross, who died in June. The
21-1/2-hour live telethon originated from the South
Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, with Ed McMahon as the telethon’s
anchor. In addition to the tote board figure, which
reflects pledges and donations, a number of MDA sponsors
presented checks representing
their year-round fund-raising efforts for MDA. Leading
this group was a record contribution of $23.5 million
from the International Association of Fire Fighters,
the highest yearly contribution ever from any MDA sponsor.
American Cancer Society
COPLEY — A Silent
Auction
will take place Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Copley Community
Hall, 1278 Sunset Drive. Tickets cost $35 for general
admission and $75 for ringside seating. The event will
include dinner and entertainment along with the silent
auction. For ticket information, call (330) 697-2730
or e-mail tbellstockblues
@sbcglobal.net. All tickets
are presale only. The event is a fund-raiser hosted
by breast cancer survivor Christy Bell, of Akron, who
is raising money for the American Cancer Society’s
Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer Walk Oct. 15. The
3.1-mile walk will begin at Canal Park stadium, with
registration at 9 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m. This
event unites the community to honor and celebrate breast
cancer survivors, educate women about the importance
of early detection and prevention and raise money to
fund research and support programs. Since 1993, 3 million
walkers across the United States have collected more
than $194 million to help fight breast cancer. Last
year in Akron, the Making Strides event raised approximately
$257,000. Flagship sponsors of this year’s event
are ACME Fresh Market, the Akron Education Association,
OMNOVA Solutions Inc., Summa Health System and Time
Warner Cable. 91.3 The Summit is a media sponsor. To
register or for more information, visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline or
call (800) ACS-2345.
Vision Support
Services
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Vision
Support Services will host its Fifth
Annual White Cane Walk for Sight
Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its office at 325 E.
Market St. The morning will begin with a white cane
orientation. Blindfolds and canes will be available
for use, and with the help of a partner, participants
walk the designated quarter-mile route on a blocked-off
section of Union Street near The University of Akron.
The partner guides the individual to help him or her
safely navigate the route, and then the two reverse
roles for the return trip. The event has been expanded
from previous years and includes exhibits and demonstrations,
including Beep Baseball players, Universal Low Vision
Aids, blind golfer Mark Arnold, Highbrook Lodge Camp,
free vision screenings, an activity center, craft sales,
entertainment, prizes and drawings, a silent auction
and contests. The event
is free, but all participants are encouraged to collect
sponsorship pledges to support the programs and services
offered by Vision Support Services, which serves individuals
in a five-county area who are blind or visually impaired.
For more information or to sign up, call Vision Support
Services at (330) 253-2555 or visit www.vssakron.org.
American Diabetes Association
DOWNTOWN AKRON — This year,
more than 600 area residents will gather at Akron General
Medical Center. They will team up with their friends,
neighbors and co-workers and gather sponsors and donations
to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association
(ADA) for the annual America’s
Walk for Diabetes.
Sponsored by the Akron office of the ADA, America’s
Walk for Diabetes will take place Oct. 8 from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. The event is expected to raise
$75,000 for research. More than 21 million children
and adults, including 300,000 in Northeast Ohio, have
diabetes, according to ADA officials. For more information
on the event, to sign up as a walker, sponsor or volunteer
or to donate, call (888) 342-2383, ext. 6746, or visit
www.diabetes.org/walk.
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