Arlington firefighters kick off "Fill the Boot" campaign to fight muscular dystrophy
Arlington firefighters are taking to the streets to fight muscular dystrophy in their annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign.
Starting on June 7, members of Arlington Professional Fire Fighters Local 1329 will be standing on street corners or sidewalks around the city and asking for donations. It’s part of a nationwide fundraising drive by the International Association of Fire Fighters to fight the disease.
Donations will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association to help those with the disease, as well as funding research and healthcare in hospitals across North Texas. They’ll also help 100 kids with muscular dystrophy attend the MDA summer camp for free.
"The dedication of these fire fighters to MDA's mission is unwavering,” MDA Executive Director Meagan Johnson said in a statement. “[They’re] spending countless hours both with Fill the Boot and MDA Summer Camp to care for the kids and adults in Arlington. We know that their devotion to our families will make this year's drive a success."
The organization pledged its support to fighting the disease in 1954. Since then, it has raised more than $630 million for the MDA. Last year, more than 100,000 firefighters took part in Fill the Boot events across the United States.