The MDA is most famous for the nationwide telethon it holds on Labor Day each year.  Begun in 1966, it is hosted by Jerry Lewis, who has supported the MDA since its inception.  Lewis's support has been so ironclad over the years that children assisted by the MDA are referred to as Jerry's Kids.  In 2007, the annual Labor Day Telethon raised a record USD$63.7 million. In 2005, the MDA made the unprecedented decision to pledge $1 million of the telethon's money raised to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, making the donation specifically to the Salvation Army (though the telethon also urged viewers to give to the Red Cross).
The MDA targets the following muscular<unk>  diseases:
It also targets the following:
It also targets muscle diseases due to deficiencies in carnitine and the following enzymes:
The MDA's national headquarters are in Tucson, Arizona.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Spinal muscular atrophy molecular biology
Spinal muscular atrophy genetics
Spinal muscular atrophy epidemiology and demographics
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis classification
Spinal muscular atrophy other forms
Spinal muscular atrophy types
Duchenne muscular dystrophy laboratory findings