MDA, Harley-Davidson to Celebrate
25-Year Partnership on Labor Day Telethon
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 29, 2005 – The 2005 Jerry Lewis Labor Day
Telethon will help commemorate 25 years of partnership between the Muscular
Dystrophy Association and the Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the motorcycle company’s
sponsorship of the voluntary health organization, MDA will air three
segments on the national Telethon, including vintage footage of Harley-Davidson
rides and the company’s first Telethon check presentation.
The Telethon will air for 21½ hours beginning at 9 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Sept. 4. Originating from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills,
Calif., the show reaches some 50 million viewers via nearly 200 “Love
Network” stations nationwide and millions more worldwide on the
Internet.
Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee, began its partnership with MDA
in 1980 with a program called Bikers Fight MD. On that year’s
Telethon, Harley-Davidson representatives presented their first check
to MDA for $185,000.
Since 1980, Harley-Davidson’s family of dealers, customers, employees,
suppliers and H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) chapters have raised more
than $50 million for “Jerry’s kids.” In 2004 alone,
Harley-Davidson contributed $4 million.
“I’m so grateful for everyone associated with Harley-Davidson
because of their tireless commitment to overcoming muscular dystrophy,”
MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said. “MDA’s partnership
with Harley-Davidson grows stronger every year, and I applaud all the
men and women of Harley-Davidson for their assistance to the families
with neuromuscular diseases across the country.”
Harley-Davidson enthusiasts coordinate hundreds of fund-raising rides,
Black & Blue Balls, bike raffles and other special events for MDA
each year. Funds raised help support MDA’s worldwide research,
comprehensive medical care for children and adults with neuromuscular
diseases, the MDA summer camp program for youngsters and much more.
“The Harley-Davidson family is deeply committed to helping MDA
and the families it serves,” Harley-Davidson President & Chief
Operating Officer James A. McCaslin said. “We have a special relationship
with ‘Jerry’s kids,’ and we won’t stop until
a cure is found.” McCaslin serves as an MDA Vice President.
Each year, Harley-Davidson riders visit MDA’s summer camps across
the nation, providing the young campers with sidecar rides and temporary
tattoos and hosting barbecues. This summer, Harley-Davidson riders from
across the country attended more than 75 MDA summer camps.
To learn more about MDA’s programs and its partnership with Harley-Davidson,
call the MDA office nearest you, or visit www.mda.org.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular
diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services,
and far-reaching professional and public health education.
The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual
private contributors.
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