Upper Pine River Fire Protection District has been involved with Muscular Dystrophy Association's "Fill the Boot" for several years in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. Firefighters are involved with "Fill the Boot" at several locations throughout Bayfield, including the Heritage Days parade, and raising upwards of $1,800 annually.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.
In MD, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle. There are different kinds of Muscular Dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, other types don't surface until adulthood.
The disease can take away a patient's ability to walk, run, hug, dress, talk and even breathe. There is no cure for MD, but medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.
The program has been running for 60 years and has raised nearly $24 million to save and improve lives of families struggling with this disease. Fire departments and personnel nationwide participate in "Fill the boot," with more than 100,000 firefighters involved annually.
Every year MDA sends more than 3,500 kids, ages 6 to 17 all diagnosed as having neuromuscular disease, to a fun week of one of the nearly 80 MDA summer camps nationwide.
Through donations made during "Fill the boot" MDA is able to provide life-changing summer camp experiences for these children and teens, all at no cost to their families.
So the next time you see a firefighter holding a fire boot in regards to MDA, remember what an awesome cause it is and the families it helps. Don't be afraid to empty that change you have in your car or the extra dollar in your wallet. If we all pitch in we can make a big difference.
More information is avaialble at www.mda.org
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District
Bayfield
