Updated at: 09/21/2009 11:38 AM

The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon

Thousands of Northlanders tuned into the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon on Monday, September 7th. The telethon, in it's 44th year, not only provided entertainment, but it helped raise awareness for over 40 neuromuscular diseases.

This year's local portion of the event was held at Krenzen Honda on Haines Road. By the end of the days broadcast, more than $328,000 were raised locally. That is about $40,000 less than last year.

Many volunteers were out in full force to help with the telethon. In the morning, students from Northwestern High School in Maple answered the phones and took pledges and donations. In the afternoon, it was the firefighters' turn. While Virginia, Duluth and Superior firefighters took calls, local kids living with muscular dystrophy helped with the games and interviews.

Broadcast from Las Vegas, the 21 1/2 hour nationally televised event was co-hosted by "Days of Our Lives" star and "Biggest Loser" host Alison Sweeney, Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell and TV-host Jann Carl. Joining Jerry Lewis was "America's Funniest Video's" and "Dancing with the Stars" host Tom Bergeron.

$60.5 million were raised nationally. That total was down from last year's record $65 million.