My way of giving back... Please read.

[bondguy007]

I don't know whether this will come up during my audition, but I wanted to tell everyone something. If you read my earlier post, I have cerebral palsy, and what I didn't tell you is that my passion, my zest for living, comes from a few places. The biggest one of which is my work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Since 1999, I have been answering phones locally for the Jerry Lewis Telethon. For the last four years, I have raised money to send kids with the disease to camp. In that time, I have raised close to $45,000 and have sent over 60 children for a week of fun where their disabilities are forgotten. It's truly a magical place. I bore witness to it last year, will again this year right before my audition, and then, right after my audition, I will be on the New York City telethon with Tony Orlando to present a check for the first time.

I don't mean to bother any of you, but I met the parents of one child that I helped named Cody. His father wrote me after we met and my heart broke.

He said:

I used to stop on my way home from work and cry for Cody, (I never let him see me cry or think that I may be losing hope). Now I have stopped doing that and I do nothing to cope. I simply lock all the hopelessness and despair out. I simply assume that if they find a cure all will be good for everybody and all our problems will be solved, and if they don't find a cure our psychological needs will be become a non issue as I don't believe that at that point I will ever be able to understand what the point of our life really was.

I have attached a picture of Cody with Tony Orlando, and all I ask is that you consider your fellow man and how families like him and families worse off than ours with hundreds of diseases are the real gutsy heroes who deserve to win. I know gas prices and the economy are pinching everyone, but I dare you not to look at that picture of Cody and open your heart. My site for Cody is in my signature. Even if it's a dollar - I appreciate it. And you can bet IF I get on the show and win...he's one of many inspirations to whom some cash will go.



Sincerely,
James Lacerenza

[silvercamaro]

Sniffle. Okay, my friend, you sucked me in -- and, as a former fund raiser, that doesn't happen to me all that often. I promise I will help. It won't be tonight, and it won't be until I get my bank statement and balance my checkbook (and that may even mean it will be put off until next month,) but I have bookmarked your site. Before your deadline in December, I guarantee....

Good luck in reaching your goal and in getting on the show.

[bondguy007]

Thanks, man. I know times are tough, believe me. My dad's in real estate and the housing market sucks, plus we're still paying off my late mother's cancer bills.

[T_Bone0806]

As one of "Jerry's Kids" (albeit a bigger one)...thank you for your efforts.