Evening star., 1952-12-26
Muscular Dystrophy
Ito Get Funds From
|15-Hour 'TeIethon'

A 15-hour "telethon" drive to
raise funds for research on mus
cular dystrophy, will be launched
at $50 pm. tomorrow over tele-
vision Station WTTG.
The program, scheduled to con-
tinue until noon Sunday, involves
about 800 persons who are con-
Itributing their time in one way or
another to cap the December mus
cular dystrophy drive.
Art Lamb. WTTG disc jockey
and announcer. has the job Of tell
ing the facts about muscular dys.
trophy during the entire program.
He'll be aided by joey Adams.
New York comedian; Captain
Video, the Du Mont network space
hero" and group of Washing,
ton entertainers.
Idea Originated Here. 1
The telethon is the idea of 1t.
Comdr. George Dixon, parent Of
a muscular dystrophy victim and
president of the Washington :
Chapter of the Muscular Dys-
trophy Association. He has lined
up the entire "telethon cast" from
telephone operators to television
engineers.
Comdr. Dixon said that between
variety acts, appeals will be made
to viewers to give to muscular
dystrophy. To handle the gift
pledges. Comdr. Dixon has lined
up 900 telephone operators. The
Hecht Co. has donated its SWITCH
board and the Hot Shoppes, Inc,
will contribute food for the volun-
teer operators.
The association has obtained
Lisner auditorium at Twenty first
and H streets NV.
New Wrinkle Added.
A new wrinkle in telethons has
been added by Comdr. Dixon. A
radio man himself, he has enlisted
5 lthe aid Of the. Washington. Balti- ,
! more and Annapolis mobile radio
l clubs. Members will blanket the
, city tomorrow night and Sunday
, morning to pick up donations as
S they are called in and pledged.
Each car will be equipped with
radio and will communicate with
a central dispatcher set up to
relay the names and addresses Of
those persons wanting to support
the drive. Each member, will be
properly identified with badges as
will their automobiles. Sixty cars
will be on hand.
The association is ready to hand
out 10000 chocolate dispensing
teddy bears to children who wish
!, to contribute at Lisner Auditorium. /;
Capt. Video and his Space Rang ,
: iers will be present to meet the
children Sunday morning. .
Helping with transportation Of
: operators and other personnel
: during the show will be the local
| chapter Of the national Jewish
boys fraternity, Upsilon Lambda
+ Phi. Volunteers from the Anacos-
+ tia Bank and the National Savings
+ and Trust Co. will donate their
!, time to tally up receipts. =
$ Marines to Assist.
The 5th Special Infantry Bat.
TALON of the Marine Corps Reserve
will stand watches at Lisner Audi
torium and guard the f1sh bowl
: where contributions will be put.
: Comdr. Dixon also announced that
: the police department has granted
!. special permission to the radio
!! !! equipped cars to double park while
), = picking up contributions.
Peoples Drug Stores and the
Atlantic g. Pacific food stores are
S distributing leaflets with their
e sales telling of the telethon.
( Muscular dystrophy has no cure
!, or treatment. 1t is disease that
S can end only in death until re-
S search turns up cure. Doctors
= say it seems to waste away VIC
TINS muscles producing a limp
v effect throughout the body. ,#
0 Funds from the drive will go
4 directly into research centers
throughout the Nation. 1t has
:. been estimated there are about
100,0 persons afflicted with the
: disease. There is no definite goal
set for the telethon drive. =,