At this year’s Labor Day Telethon, the 43rd edition of the annual fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, famous comedian Jerry Lewis hopes on raising even more money from America’s do-gooders than last year’s total of $63.7 million.

The aged actor, who helped establish the MDA in the early 1950s, is the association’s National Chairman. He has been the star of the Labor Day Telethon since 1966. He initially hosted the event with singer and comedic partner Dean Martin and then continued solo.

In the 21½-hour event, Ed McMahon, new co-hosts and big name acts, all of them helping Lewis to raise money for “his kids”, will join the actor.

Co-hosts include entertainers for all ages and tastes: Tom Bergeron, Jann Carl, Bart Connor, Norm Crosby, Billy Gilman, Nancy O'Dell, Tony Orlando, Alison Sweeney.

They will team-up with the hottest movie and music stars of the moment like Celine Dion, 3 Doors Down, Kid Rock, Sugarland, Ludacris, Reba McEntire, Billy Bob Thornton, Bo Bice, Gloria Gaynor, Joshua Bell, Menudo, Maureen McGovern, Starship and Terry Fator.
The 82-year-old legendary comedian and philanthropist seems pretty excited about the event: “I’m truly honored to be joined by such an incredible team of all-stars willing to go all out in the fight against muscular dystrophy. The sheer weight of talent and professionalism these people bring to the show is sure to make this year’s telethon a smashing success.”

The telethon that is expected to be viewed in over 40 million homes in both the U.S. and Canada will air starting 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 31st from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Los Vegas and will end at 6:30 p.m. EDT on September 1st. Several other performances will be aired from New York, Chicago and other venues.

All in all, considering that ever since 1966 the Labour Day Telethon is known to raise approximately US$2 billion for neuromuscular patient care and research, some more of Jerry’s kids are bound to have a better life this year.