...
@the_list = ("1","2","3","4");
foreach $bit (@the_list) {
    $the_labels{$bit} = $bit . "label1" . "description";
}
return (table({-border=>'0',-width=>'100%'},
    start_form({-action=>'./somescript.cgi', -method=>'POST'}),

TR,td,checkbox_group(-name=>'the_group',-values=>[@the_list],-linebreak=>'true',-labels=>\%the_labels),

submit(-name=>'submit',-value=>'submit'),
    end_form() ) );

##</code><code>##

foreach $bit (@the_list) {
    $the_labels{$bit} = $bit . "&nbsp&nbsplabel1  " . "  description   ";
}