by Kathy Wechsler

This Labor Day weekend, stars will gather in Las Vegas for the 44th Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Broadcast live from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, the legendary show will reach out to millions of viewers around the world.

MDA National Chairman and Telethon star Jerry Lewis and friends are pumped up for 21½ hours of top-notch entertainment, information about MDA’s research and medical services and inspiring stories from families affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

Returning as Telethon co-hosts are Television Personality Jann Carl of “Entertainment Tonight;” Alison Sweeney of the hit daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” and host of the reality series “The Biggest Loser;” Nancy O’Dell of “Access Hollywood;” and Tom Bergeron

Kayla Vittek and mom, Lisa

58 Quest

Jann Carl and Ace Young

of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

All four serve as MDA national vice presidents, a voluntary position.

New MDA roles

O’Dell also recently accepted another advocacy role for MDA, to serve as the Association’s National ALS Ambassador. O’Dell lost her mother in June 2008 to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). She joins MDA ALS Division co-chairs Augie and Lynne Nieto in raising research funds and public awareness of ALS.

Also returning to the Telethon with a new MDA title is Luke Christie, the ebullient 16-year-old who served as 2006 and 2007 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador and 2008 Harley-Davidson MDA Goodwill Ambassador. Christie now

is MDA’s National Youth Chairman, a role he inherited from his good friend, award-winning country music artist Billy Gilman. Christie, of Due West, S.C., has type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA2). He will host the youth segments of the Telethon.

Co-hosts Billy Gilman and “American Idol” finalist Ace Young also will perform on the show. In the past year, each accepted the role of MDA Celebrity Ambassador.

Alison Sweeny

Tom Bergeron

Abbey returns

Anything but camera-shy, Abbey Umali of Redlands, Calif., returns to the national broadcast excited and ready for action. She’ll be making several live appearances with her parents, Wendi and Joel.

The enthusiastic 10-year-old is affected by a form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and is in her second year as MDA’s National Goodwill Ambassador, a role she