Another big "thank you" to everyone who called in their support to Monday's MDA Telethon. Ralph and I and all our crew are honored to be a part of this event every year. Labor Day is a chance for us to catch up with the families and be reminded of why it is we do what we do. This year, I was reminded by Loran, a bright 21-year old woman from Burlington who was diagnosed with a form of MD two years ago - her eyes welled with tears when I asked about the onset of symptoms so suddenly after a seemingly-normal first 19 years of life. I was reminded by Brock, an 18-year old excited to vote for the first time in November - his mother describing how each day, it gets more difficult for him to take a breath. I was reminded by Sarah, an 18-year old whose smile lights up a room - I bent down to give her a hug in her wheelchair and recalled how she would walk to the center of the stage area during the first telethons on which she appeared. And I was reminded during the segment when we remembered Adam and John, two men who lost their battles over the past year - two men for whom a cure did not come in time. But also two men who were firm believers that a cure WILL come. And so we fight - we ask for your calls - and we continue to hope that this telethon will be our last - that a cure will be found, and our help will no longer be needed!

  Greeting Ralph at 6:30am - after he'd been in Alaska two weeks!

 Ralph interviews Mark Cassella

 Our wonderful phone bank volunteers

 Twittering an update between segments!

 Hanging out with Brock

 The Civitan Club manned the phones in the morning

 Getting ready to pop balloons with Sarah and AJ