CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Champion
boxers Laila Ali and Victor Ortiz are fighting back against muscle
disease by appearing on the annual MDA Show of Strength Telethon
this Labor Day weekend airing
Sunday, Aug. 31, 9/8c on ABC
television stations across the country.
Ali, former super middleweight world champion and current host
of "All In, with Laila Ali," will
introduce a performance from American rock band Fall Out Boy during
the Muscular Dystrophy Association's nationally broadcast show.
Ortiz will introduce R&B sensation Aloe Blacc's performance
of his hit "The Man." The former WBC welterweight
champ-turned-actor took time from promoting his supporting role in
this summer's blockbuster action flick "The Expendables 3" to show
his support for MDA at the Hollywood Palladium.
Both Ali and Ortiz took their support backstage at the show
taping to meet with MDA families and learn more about MDA's mission
to save and improve lives of children and adults affected by muscle
disease.
"I've had to fight a lot of tough bouts in my career to become a
champion, but that word - fight - has a whole new meaning
for me after meeting with MDA families and learning about the
challenges they face every day in the fight against muscle
disease," Ortiz said. "These families are true champions and I'm
happy to lend my support to help continue the progress that will
one day lead to cure for these life-threatening diseases."
Ortiz also did an exclusive interview with "blue" carpet
correspondent and 15-year-old MDA Ambassador Abbey Umali of Redlands, Calif. Umali is affected by
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) which causes muscle weakness,
lack of coordination and loss of sensation in the upper and lower
extremities. (Click here to see their exclusive interview and learn
why Victor Ortiz supports MDA.)
The 2014 MDA telethon will feature a star-studded celebrity
lineup with performances from Grammy® winners Rascal
Flatts and LeAnn Rimes,
plus Aloe Blacc, American Authors, Bret Michaels, Fall Out Boy, Jason
Derulo, Matt Nathanson,
R5 and Sara Evans.
Additional celebrity presenters on the telethon include:
Tom Bergeron, ABC's Dr.
Richard Besser, Jann Carl, Charles
Esten, Terry Fator,
Kevin Frazier, Josh Groban, Ludacris, Susan Lucci, Kesha, Alyssa Milano, Nancy
O'Dell, Brad Paisley,
Chris Powell, Jordin Sparks and Fall Out Boy bassist
Pete Wentz.
About MDA Show of Strength Telethon
MDA's first Labor Day weekend
telethon was broadcast in 1966 on a single New York station and has
become the most successful fundraising event in the history of
television. The show, originally hosted by iconic star Jerry Lewis and with help from a legion of top
celebrities and entertainers, has raised millions each year to
provide life-enhancing support and services for the families MDA
serves. The real stars on the broadcast have always been the MDA
families who have graciously agreed to open their homes and hearts
to America and tell their stories of strength. This year marks the
49th annual MDA telethon.
R.A. (RAC) Clark, longtime executive producer of the Academy of
Country Music Awards, will return for a third consecutive year as
MDA telethon executive producer.
In addition to funds contributed by the public, substantial
support also comes from MDA's family of national sponsors, whose
work throughout the year on behalf of MDA will be recognized on the
telethon. Among the sponsors: International Association of Fire
Fighters, CITGO Petroleum Corp., Lowe's, Harley-Davidson Motor Co.,
Jiffy Lube International, National Association of Letter Carriers,
The Safeway Foundation, 7-Eleven, Dr Pepper Snapple Group/7UP,
Acosta and Burger King.
Funds raised by MDA telethons also have contributed to the
organization's worldwide research program. Today, through current
clinical trials, there is growing excitement that new lifesaving
treatments and discoveries are on the horizon for many of the
disorders MDA is dedicated to defeating, including Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Visit mda.org/showofstrength to learn more about the 2014 MDA
telethon.
About MDA
The Muscular Dystrophy
Association is the world's leading nonprofit health agency
dedicated to saving and improving the lives of people with muscle
disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by
funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures; by
providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA
families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back
through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement.
Visit mda.org and follow us at
facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews. Learn more about
MDA's mission by watching this video.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140829/141630
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140820/138230
SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association