Jerry Lewis Visit to Australia

Jerry Lewis to entertain Sydney

International comedian and humanitarian Jerry Lewis will visit Sydney from 23-29 June 2011 as part of his upcoming national tour to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia.

The legendary comedian has been the National Chairman of the US Muscular Dystrophy Association for 60 years and is now International Patron for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia. In September, Jerry will host his final MDA Labor Day telethon – an institution which has raised more than $2.6 billion for muscular dystrophy over the last 45 years in the US.

While in Sydney, Jerry will perform a sold-out show for 700 people at the Rooty Hill RSL on Friday 24 June and at a 400-person gala dinner at Doltone House at Pyrmont on Saturday 25 June. Tickets are available to the public for the Doltone House dinner and can be purchased via the upcoming events tab on the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation website: www.supportMD.org.au.

Neuromuscular diseases affect 1 in 300 Australians, including carers and immediate family members. This represents 25,000 people in NSW. The most common of the diseases is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which affects mostly boys who are diagnosed at around the age of 3 or 4. It is a slow and progressive condition, and by age 10 most boys struggle to walk and by 16, they are having difficulty breathing. There is no cure and the boys are not expected to live past their late teens or twenties.

Jerry will also visit Brisbane and Melbourne during his two-week tour. Muscular Dystrophy Foundation CEO David Jack said Jerry had been a regular visitor to Australia in recent years to raise awareness and funds, and assist the community to better understand neuromuscular conditions.

“Jerry’s kids are the young people whose lives are cut tragically short from muscular dystrophy, or other neuromuscular diseases. With Jerry’s help, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of Australia can make a meaningful difference to the lives of these children,” Mr Jack said.

Mr Jack said of the 20,000 Australians with a neuromuscular condition, the foundation currently only has the financial resources to adequately support up to 20 per cent of these clients, and their families and carers.

“With Jerry’s support, we will educate Australians about the devastating nature of neuromuscular conditions, and in turn help raise sufficient funds to make a life-changing difference to the other 80 per cent of people who are living with these diseases,” Mr Jack said.

The foundation not only supports ongoing research and the delivery of much needed services to the clients, and their family and carers, but importantly focuses on improving their quality of life through activities such as camps, and social and educational events.