The Muscular Dystrophy Association has announced a star-studded celebrity lineup that will appear on its 48th annual telethon this Labor Day weekend, Sunday, Sept. 1, 9/8c, on ABC television stations across the country.
Called the MDA Show of Strength, the telethon will feature: Ryan Seacrest, Backstreet Boys, country stars Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and Lee Ann Womack, “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, Enrique Iglesias, Paula Abdul, teenage pop sensation Austin Mahone, hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez, “American Idol” runner-up Jessica Sanchez, Kenny Loggins with the Blue Sky Riders, American blues rock band Vintage Trouble, and “The Voice” contestant Chris Mann.
Additional presenters for the 2013 show include: ABC’s Dr. Richard Besser, “Dancing with the Stars” contestant and “Brady Bunch” mom Florence Henderson, Emmy award-winning journalist Jann Carl, Olympic gold medal gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, and No Doubt drummer Adrian Young and his son, Mason Young.
This year’s lineup will deliver one-of-a-kind show performances as they join celebrity presenters to engage viewers with powerful “stories of strength” and moving calls-to-action to help families affected by muscle diseases.
“The MDA telethon is an American tradition, powered by celebrities, national sponsors and, most of all, generous individuals who watch and donate,” said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks. "This year, we’ll tell a powerful story of the progress we’re making and breaking developments under way in the fight against muscle disease. We want to share our vision of hope that new lifesaving treatments are on the horizon as told through the eyes of courageous people fighting various neuromuscular diseases.
“On behalf of the tens of thousands of families we serve, MDA is remarkably hopeful and enormously grateful to all our supporters who make this progress possible. We think this year’s show will be our best ever, truly a moving and entertaining two-hour experience.”
R.A. (RAC) Clark, longtime executive producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards, will return this year as MDA telethon executive producer. The week before the broadcast, MDA is planning kickoff parties in communities in every state in the nation to rally interest and engage new supporters. A public service campaign is being launched this week to promote the show.
While the telethon has consistently enjoyed robust support from some of the biggest celebrities in show business, MDA says the real stars on the broadcast are the individuals and families served by MDA, including six families who will tell their stories of survival and hope during the 2013 broadcast.
MDA supporters are encouraged to visit mda.org/muscle to enhance their telethon viewing experience. New this year, site visitors can vote for their favorite MDA Telethon Memorable Moments featuring classic footage that includes the legendary Jerry Lewis, who generously hosted the MDA event for decades. Visitors also can check out and share exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the telethon with celebrities and MDA families, view and submit a photo to a special Instagram gallery of “Make a Muscle” photos from around the world, and sign on to be a “Muscle Maker” for $19 a month. MDA social channels include Facebook at facebook.com/MDANational, Twitter at twitter.com/MDAnews, Google+ at mda.org/plus, Instagram at instagram/mda_usa and Pinterest at pinterest/mdanational.
Source: PR Newswire
