I need your help tonight!

Message

bondguy007 · #1 Post by **bondguy007** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:19 am

Tonight is the Jerry Lewis Telethon, as some of you may know. I will be on the New York City broadcast with Tony Orlando, presenting a check for $30,110 based on work I've done the entire year. I am asking you guys to pitch in, and give the princely sum of $1 in your local area. If I can raise $30,000 + in a year, and have cerebral palsy to boot, you guys have no excuses. Yes, I know we're in a recession, yes, I know gas is sky high, and yes, I know and am praying for the people in the gulf. As a matter of fact, it would be wrong inside my heart not to tell you to help them when the storm hits, either through the Red Cross, Salvation Army or AmeriCares. Everybody needs help, and so tonight, on our little board, I am begging you to help everybody. Go to the phones or get on the web. Let's kick a** for humanity.

www.mda.org
1-800-FIGHT-MD

God bless you all,
James Lacerenza, MDA Volunteer / Supervisor, Hawthorne, NY Office
www.mdactkids.org

peacock2121 · #2 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:11 am

I applaud your commitment to and support of MDA.

admanvii · #3 Post by **admanvii** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:40 am

Ok time to get serious

I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy..... If it were not for the research by this and other orginizations I would not be enjoying the good life today. I a living miracle....17 surgeries in 11 months...12 on my spine and 11 I was awake for 5 on the leg. My body changed as I am atrophic on the left from head to toe. My body went from 205 to 134 lbs... Today I am 190 and yes ladies I am a hottie again....

There are proceedures and drugs today... On the spine they have learned how to increase the communitive levels of the nerves This is what I went through LSB's Radio Frequency ....Gamabril is a new chemo experiment that can knock off the nerve endings. They call it the missle as it only attacks the nerve endings

RSD,CP,ALS,MS,Parkinsons,Alzheimers and so many other neuromuscular diseases are inter related. When wew find remidies for one we also gain info for so many others.

There is always hope....I was systemic stage 4...a gonner...took me 5 years to walk again and yes I can two years ago I got my ass back on skates to coach...I know my limitations. I will never run again but it is ok as for most days I can walk, yes with some pain but I can walk usually with out any artificial assisatance.

Thanks for letting me vent and yes please help I am living proof that these orginizations do work

Its good to be the King

silvercamaro · #4 Post by **silvercamaro** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:01 am

admanvii wrote: yes ladies I am a hottie again....

We never had any doubt.

You make an excellent point about how so many afflictions have similarities. If we don't have or know anyone with one thing, it's very likely that another will hit closer to home sooner or later. By helping to find effective treatment for one thing, we are closer to finding better treatments for many other problems in a wide spectrum of diseases and injuries as well.

dimmzy · #5 Post by **dimmzy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:02 am

The Jerry Lewis telethon has been postponed!

Are the local ones still on?

bondguy007 · #6 Post by **bondguy007** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:56 pm

dimmzy, you're either kidding or live in the gulf. I say that because some stations in Louisiana will air the national show but not thier local segments. The national show WILL go on.

SilverCamero: All research found by MDA is shared throughout the medical community, as it should be, so yes, it could benefit you or me down the road.

frogman042 · #7 Post by **frogman042** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:29 pm

Jason, er Daniel, er James (of course!)

Is there any way when we call in with our donation to give you props so that they know it was through your effort?

---Jay

bondguy007 · #8 Post by **bondguy007** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:35 pm

Jay:

If you don't mind the long distance charges, here's my local number (the Stamford, CT phone center). Use it only from 9-7 PM Eastern Tonight / Tomorow and ask to speak to either Joyce Finch or Bob Schnackel - they're the head people and they know me. Here's the number.

1-(203)-357-7711

I'll be on early this morning to double check if that's right and to also post the toll-free 1-800 CT number when I get back from NYC, if there is one.

T_Bone0806 · #9 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:36 pm

Being one of Jerry's Kids, I have two things to say:

1) I also thank you, bondguy, for your efforts.

2) Jerry, just because Mom is gone that doesn't mean you can weasel outta that back child support you still owe

bondguy007 · #10 Post by **bondguy007** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:54 am

Hi everybody:

Just got back from Manhattan. It was THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE (so far). I was in the audience along with my dad, who sat nearby but not next to me. We got to see, Will Downing, Tony Orlando and Gloria Gaynor rehearse / tape in between local cutaways. For those of you not in the NYC area, oh boy will you LOVE when this gets posted on Youtube. The check presentation went off without a hitch, I called the local host Giovanna "Darling" and she laughed. Russ (the other local host) said to me later, "I saw you hitting on her, don't try that s***! (He was kidding, of course). Gloria and Tony were both awesome and I got MAJOR camera time during their appearances. I even spoke to King Jerry himself. I got to meet Tony in his dressing room, we swapped e-mails / phone numbers and he was ASTOUNDED that I remembered details from shows 20 + years ago he forgot. He kissed and hugged me repeatedly and just was in awe of my accomplishments. He said next year, he wants me back, and he wants to do the song I love, "Just One Person". I told him my goal next year was to send every kid to camp, and I think he cried. Gloria, Tony and I took photos...Those will come too, I assume.

Highlight of the night: (besides talking to Jerry) Doing a tote with Russ and Giovanna and honoring past telethon drummer Bobby Rosengarden with the audience.

Well, I will post after the show tomorrow. Time for bed!

TheConfessor · #11 Post by **TheConfessor** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:24 am

Congratulations, James! That's very cool. Your web site looks good, too. Thanks for all your efforts to help others.

bondguy007 · #12 Post by **bondguy007** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:46 pm

Here's my appearance on the telethon with Russ Salzberg and Giovanna Drpic from WWOR, Tony Orlando, Gloria Gaynor, and Jerry Lewis!!!

Part 1: Check Presentation and Tote
Part 2: My Duet with Tony Orlando
Part 3: Gloria Gaynor

Enjoy!
James

silvercamaro · #13 Post by **silvercamaro** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:08 pm

Good job, James!

Your first link didn't work for me, but I searched and found this one, which did. I'm not certain it's the same one, but I enjoyed watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyQJNErxx9k

hermillion · #14 Post by **hermillion** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:16 pm

Fantastic, James! You did an awesome job of fundraising, and I loved your stories and videos.

rayxtwo · #15 Post by **rayxtwo** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:38 pm

Great job!!!!

I'll be running the MDA/Budweiser Poker Tournament here in St. Louis this year in November. I hope I can come close to matching your efforts.

Ray

#16 Post by **littlebeast13** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:32 am

bondguy007 wrote:Here's my appearance on the telethon with Russ Salzberg and Giovanna Drpic from WWOR, Tony Orlando, Gloria Gaynor, and Jerry Lewis!!!

Part 1: Check Presentation and Tote
Part 2: My Duet with Tony Orlando
Part 3: Gloria Gaynor

Enjoy!
James

I was walking past the TV in front of Electronics Sunday night when they talked about going to the New York MDA chairman, or something like that and it stopped me in my tracks remembering this thread. I began to walk back towards the TV, but then I heard them say it was Tony Orlando and continued on about my work. I guess I might've missed you if you were on the national broadcast....

lb13

frogman042 · #17 Post by **frogman042** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:11 am

silvercamaro wrote:Good job, James!

Your first link didn't work for me, but I searched and found this one, which did. I'm not certain it's the same one, but I enjoyed watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyQJNErxx9k

Worked for me, maybe it only works if you contributed

?

---Jay

silvercamaro · #18 Post by **silvercamaro** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:15 am

frogman042 wrote:
Worked for me, maybe it only works if you contributed ?

---Jay

This morning, it works for me, too.

bondguy007 · #19 Post by **bondguy007** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:12 pm

Guys:

It didn't work for a while because I improperly made the url tags. Just a note - never edit videos at 12:30 in the morning after a telethon!!!!

silvercamaro · #20 Post by **silvercamaro** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:18 pm

BTW, James, you are a handsome young man.

I just thought somebody needed to say the obvious.

Appa23 · #21 Post by **Appa23** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:28 pm

Just so you do not think that I ignored your plea, I will note that I give directly to ALS research.

I still support your cause, just in a different way.

bondguy007 · #22 Post by **bondguy007** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:35 pm

Appa: Thank you for your help.

I will try my best, while it is still fresh in my mind, to tell you the off-camera details.

Will Downing (gospel singer) rehearsed / taped from 8:20-8:40 PM Eastern. Tony came out at 8:40 and messed up the word "polymiositis" (one of the diseases MDA covers). I corrected him, which he appreciated. At 9, I was given my facsimile check. At approximately 9:40 PM Tony came on and did the first cutaway. After we went back to Vegas, the stagehands told me where to be when, and Giovanna (omg, be still my heart, Giovanna!) came over to get my details right. During the intro to the 2nd cutaway I was wheeled in place. I said my speech, and then a stagehand said, "Young man, we're going to grant you your wish" (of doing a tote). After that cutaway, we heard Gloria Gaynor rehearse. (what a thrill!)

This was also when I met Tony. He was sitting on a couch with a TV off to a corner, and his manager to the right. The first thing I said to him was "Mr. Orlando, it is an HONOR." And he replied, "no, no, YOU were INCREDIBLE". We talked about Mom (Tony: Mama! Look at your beautiful son, I gotta kiss him for you, oh James!) professional wrestling, college, and things he had forgotten about from telethons past. I told him about the Telethon tribute site my friend Jose ran and he took that down on a piece of paper. We posed for pictures out in hall; Me, Gaynor, Orlando and Russ Salzberg, who teased me about my lust for Giovanna. I went back into the studio.

Then Tony did the national show in the next national segment. I had ZERO idea I was going to talk to SuperJew (Jerry). In fact, I said "Jerry!" three times because they cut the audio from Vegas in the studio, then figured he must have heard me. I said my piece, and you saw what happened. Tony gave me the mic to wrap up Gloria and the remote. After the remote, everybody left, because they no longer needed an audience. Gloria kissed me on her way out after I wished her goodnight.

And thus ended my surreal experience!

frogman042 · #23 Post by **frogman042** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:55 am

bondguy007 wrote:Appa: Thank you for your help.

I will try my best, while it is still fresh in my mind, to tell you the off-camera details.

Will Downing (gospel singer) rehearsed / taped from 8:20-8:40 PM Eastern. Tony came out at 8:40 and messed up the word "polymiositis" (one of the diseases MDA covers). I corrected him, which he appreciated. At 9, I was given my facsimile check. At approximately 9:40 PM Tony came on and did the first cutaway. After we went back to Vegas, the stagehands told me where to be when, and Giovanna (omg, be still my heart, Giovanna!) came over to get my details right. During the intro to the 2nd cutaway I was wheeled in place. I said my speech, and then a stagehand said, "Young man, we're going to grant you your wish" (of doing a tote). After that cutaway, we heard Gloria Gaynor rehearse. (what a thrill!)

This was also when I met Tony. He was sitting on a couch with a TV off to a corner, and his manager to the right. The first thing I said to him was "Mr. Orlando, it is an HONOR." And he replied, "no, no, YOU were INCREDIBLE". We talked about Mom (Tony: Mama! Look at your beautiful son, I gotta kiss him for you, oh James!) professional wrestling, college, and things he had forgotten about from telethons past. I told him about the Telethon tribute site my friend Jose ran and he took that down on a piece of paper. We posed for pictures out in hall; Me, Gaynor, Orlando and Russ Salzberg, who teased me about my lust for Giovanna. I went back into the studio.

Then Tony did the national show in the next national segment. I had ZERO idea I was going to talk to SuperJew (Jerry). In fact, I said "Jerry!" three times because they cut the audio from Vegas in the studio, then figured he must have heard me. I said my piece, and you saw what happened. Tony gave me the mic to wrap up Gloria and the remote. After the remote, everybody left, because they no longer needed an audience. Gloria kissed me on her way out after I wished her goodnight.

And thus ended my surreal experience!

Supercool - thanks James for posting such a great recap! You did great!

---Jay