ID :
130503
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 23:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/130503
The shortlink copeid
Jerry Lewis woos Sydney`s firefighters
The room fell silent when Jerry Lewis told Sydney's firefighters he'll think of them
every night when he goes to bed.
Then they all laughed.
"No, I'm married," said the funnyman, who still pledged to sleep with the
personalised helmet presented to him on Tuesday by Assistant Commissioner Mark
Brown.
It was handed over at the City of Sydney Fire Station in recognition of the American
actor's efforts to support muscular dystrophy, which currently affects about 7000
Australian children.
"My god, what a motley looking group," the slapstick legend said to the dozen or so
firefighters lined up to meet him.
"Are we going to stand like this all day?
"Shouldn't we be doing something?"
At the age of 84, Lewis' charisma has not waned.
Wearing a bright red jacket and dark slacks, he told the crowd he had long been a
fan of firefighters because of their ability to raise funds for worthy causes.
"Firefighters are the most incredible, most unusual part of the human condition and
I know that better than most," said Lewis, who has raised a staggering $2.5 billion
for muscular dystrophy in the United States over 60 years.
"For 54 years they have committed to me and what I do.... You guys are my heroes
already."
Lewis teamed up with Melbourne's firefighters last week to raise $50 million for
research into muscular dystrophy.
He also co-hosted a $1000-a-head gala fund-raising dinner for the Muscular Dystrophy
Foundation Australia.
While in Sydney, Lewis also had the honour of ringing the bell on a 1927 fire truck
at the station.
"My IQ is 178 and you want me to ring the bell on the truck?" he asked with mock
horror.
Two of the station's firefighters, along with 14 others from across Australia, are
set to join 16 firefighters from the US for a Tour of Duty run from Los Angeles to
New York.
The event will commemorate the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in 9/11. The
31-day relay style run will begin in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, on August 12, and
end at the World Trade Centre site on September 11.
every night when he goes to bed.
Then they all laughed.
"No, I'm married," said the funnyman, who still pledged to sleep with the
personalised helmet presented to him on Tuesday by Assistant Commissioner Mark
Brown.
It was handed over at the City of Sydney Fire Station in recognition of the American
actor's efforts to support muscular dystrophy, which currently affects about 7000
Australian children.
"My god, what a motley looking group," the slapstick legend said to the dozen or so
firefighters lined up to meet him.
"Are we going to stand like this all day?
"Shouldn't we be doing something?"
At the age of 84, Lewis' charisma has not waned.
Wearing a bright red jacket and dark slacks, he told the crowd he had long been a
fan of firefighters because of their ability to raise funds for worthy causes.
"Firefighters are the most incredible, most unusual part of the human condition and
I know that better than most," said Lewis, who has raised a staggering $2.5 billion
for muscular dystrophy in the United States over 60 years.
"For 54 years they have committed to me and what I do.... You guys are my heroes
already."
Lewis teamed up with Melbourne's firefighters last week to raise $50 million for
research into muscular dystrophy.
He also co-hosted a $1000-a-head gala fund-raising dinner for the Muscular Dystrophy
Foundation Australia.
While in Sydney, Lewis also had the honour of ringing the bell on a 1927 fire truck
at the station.
"My IQ is 178 and you want me to ring the bell on the truck?" he asked with mock
horror.
Two of the station's firefighters, along with 14 others from across Australia, are
set to join 16 firefighters from the US for a Tour of Duty run from Los Angeles to
New York.
The event will commemorate the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in 9/11. The
31-day relay style run will begin in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, on August 12, and
end at the World Trade Centre site on September 11.
