MDA Labor Day Telethon 2014 raises $52.3 million

2014 MDA Labor Day Telethon aired on ABC from 9 to 11PM on Sunday, August 31.

The MDA Show of Strength has raised about $52.3 million in contributions over the Labor Day weekend.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association will continue accepting donations through September 1. A final tally’s expected Tuesday, September 2.

This year, live performances and pre-taped concerts included appearances by Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Fall Out Boy, Aloe Blacc, Jordin Sparks, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Matt Nathanson, R5 and more.

Nationwide, the telethon usually creates an outpouring of support from a big-hearted American public who in 2013 helped raise $59.6 million in pledges & contributions for both service and research programs of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

For many years, a Labor Day weekend tradition featured the much-loved actor and comedian Jerry Lewis rallying public support in the battle to combat muscular dystrophy, a crippling disease which currently has no known cure.

Then, in a major announcement in 2011 it was revealed that after more than four decades the 85-year-old Lewis would be stepping down as the major host for the show. The epic 20-hour “all night” money raiser was also cut back to 6 hours, and then in 2012 to only a 2-hour broadcast featuring both taped and live performances.

As Jerry Lewis himself would say, “the show must go on” as 2014 marks the 49th annual Labor Day telethon.