2004 MDA telethon dedicated to 'Mattie'

TUCSON, July 19 (UPI) -- The 2004 Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association will be dedicated to Mattie Stepanek, Lewis announced Monday.

Stepanek, the MDA's 13-year-old National Goodwill Ambassador, died at 13 on June 22 from complications associated with his rare neuromuscular disease, mitochondrial myopathy.

Stepanek was the best-selling author of five books of poetry, a peace advocate who was co-authoring a book with former President Jimmy Carter, and a longtime spokesnman for MDA.

"He touched many people's hearts -- mine included -- in his short lifetime, which was devoted to helping others and spreading peace and love," said Lewis, the MDA national chairman. "It's absolutely fitting that this year's telethon turn to him as inspiration in our fight against deadly neuromuscular diseases."

The 39th annual MDA Telethon, to be aired Sept. 5-6, will feature videotaped tributes to Stepanek. His mother, Jeni Stepanek of Rockville, Md., is scheduled to appear on the telethon. She also has mitochondrial myopathy and lost three other children to the disease before her diagnosis.