Forty-five acts are scheduled for this weekend's 24-hour telethon benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Acts include, singers, dancers, rock and polka bands and a karate demonstration. The line-up includes many telethon favorites including Jay Smar, the Pa. Villagers polka band, the Tamaqua Middle School band, St. John's Lutheran Church (Tamaqua) Bell Choir, Shellshocked Churchills, Becky and the Beasts, Dr. Amy Depuy, Angela Nardini, Danny Farole and family and many more.New telethon performers include the Big & Bad Rockabilly Cats, The Phoenix Bridge, the SheilaMark Blues Band and Keystone Karate School.Hosts include Joe Krushinsky, Bud Wychulis, Kim Bell, Jason Demarco, Maureen Donovan, Jerry Knowles and Jacob Gursky. The program is produced by cancertelethon.org, a non-profit cancer support organization based in Lansford, in cooperation with Blue Ridge TV13.The program originates at Penn's Peak, the concert venue just outside Jim Thorpe. Audience participation is encouraged. Admission is free and a cash bingo event runs on Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. and 2 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.A Salute to Survivors segment is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. During this segment, survivors are introduced and encouraged to talk briefly about their battle with cancer. Individuals wishing to be part of the Salute to Survivors should check in at the front door of the Penn's Peak auditorium by 6:30 p.m.The telethon is available on channel 13 on Blue Ridge Cable and on channel 90 in the Tamaqua/Mahanoy City Service Electric Cable area and on channels 2 and 50 in the Lehigh Valley on the Service Electric Cable system.