Jerry Lewis prepares for another telethon

For 60 years, Jerry Lewis has led the charge against an insidious children's disease that slowly kills muscle-controlling nerves, then takes the life.

In those years, he said he has raised $2.4 billion -- "that's with a B, kid," he says -- for research and therapy and aid for those stricken with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.

His track record of telethon fundraising is nothing short of astounding.

"It will never be done again," he said.

At 84, Lewis is worried for his children. The nation is still reeling from the recession. Even with a mild recovery, some economists fear another tumble into recession could be on the way.

People are tighter with their donated dollars. In June, the Giving USA Foundation reported that philanthropy nationwide in 2009 fell 3.9 percent, the second-steepest drop ever.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon, held annually over Labor Day weekend, has seen an increase in donations in every year but a few, including 2009, when the $60.5 million raised was almost $5 million less than in 2008.

His belief that the telethon will succeed is born of his strong will and fierce dedication to fighting muscular dystrophy and the other diseases the association researches.

Where that dedication stems from -- how Lewis became involved in the cause -- he has never revealed, and most reporters know not to ask.

He just keeps marching on, even with the changing economy, even without the support of big-name stars who once clamored to be seen on the telethon.

"People don't want to do a telethon anymore because they have to get off their butt, get on a plane, come here and do it," he said. "But I don't want them when they don't want to, because they don't come with the right attitude. If they come out of pressure, they're no good to me."

Lewis has lost the weight gained from steroid use that helped him fight pulmonary fibrosis years ago. His hair is grayer, but it's there and he has the hairline of a teenager.

He maintains an emotional connection to afflicted children and adults. For all the people he's known who have died, he admits he's unable to erect an emotional barrier.

Making that point, his face loses color in telling the story of Brian, who, for seven months, Lewis visited three or more times a week during the boy's stay in a hospital. Just before Lewis flew to Australia this summer, 11-year-old Brian told him he loved Australian rugby. So Lewis got a football signed to Brian from an Australian rugby team.

"I come back and I go from the airport to the hospital, I go up to the third floor -- and he died that morning," Lewis said. "And I'm standing in the lobby of the hospital with my football, and I'm not sure what to do with myself. My lungs went bad. I had to sit down. I was so ... angry. It shook the hell out of me. I have three [deaths] a week for 60 years, for Christ's sake; you get used to it. No, you don't!"

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that strikes children but also can develop in adults. Although many forms of muscular dystrophy have been identified, the most common in children is called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Few stricken with it live beyond their late teens or early 20s. About 1 million people in the United States have some form of muscular dystrophy.

Lewis can recite facts and details of the disease at will. He grimaces in telling Brian's story.