Members of Newton Local 1457 along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, will kick off the fire fighters’ annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to help save and improve the lives of people fighting muscle disease in the Newton area. Muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other related life-threatening diseases take away people’s ability to walk, move, smile, talk and even breathe.
Members of the Newton Local 1457 will be filling the boot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at First Avenue and West Fourth Street. Last year, Newton firefighters raised $2,360 during their first year collecting for MDA and are hoping to surpass that total this year. When you see firefighters out filling the boot, you can help by dropping a donation in the boot.
“For more than six decades firefighters have stood on the front lines for MDA, striving to make a difference in the lives of those affected by muscle disease,” Jillian Harper, fundraising coordinator, said. “Firefighters in the Newton area do more for MDA and the families we serve than any other group, dedicating countless hours of their time participating in Fill the Boot.
“We’re grateful for the support of Newton Local 1457 who have made a profound impact on our families’ health, well-being and quality of life, and we’re excited to make this year’s Newton Fill the Boot campaign even better yet.”
Funds raised through 2015 Newton Fill the Boot events build on decades of research progress, helping push science to its limits in the search for treatments and cures.
Dollars raised also help support MDA’s life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and clinics, including the MDA Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. They also make MDA summer camp possible so kids with muscle disease can enjoy “the best week of the year” at Camp Courageous in Monticello and nearly 80 other locations nationwide.
As the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s largest national sponsor, the IAFF fuels MDA’s mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases. In addition to Fill the Boot events, contributions from charity baseball games and other local events hosted/sponsored by the IAFF help support MDA’s efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.
IAFF support for MDA began in 1954 when the organization committed by proclamation to support MDA until a cure is found, and the organization’s unwavering commitment to MDA has remained strong to this day. The IAFF raised $100,000 for MDA in 1955, and $1 million in 1970, and fire fighters continue to raise the bar in their fundraising efforts. In 2013, more than 100,000 firefighters participated in Fill the Boot events across the country and raised $26.2 million. To date the IAFF has raised $558 million for MDA.