Members of the Garland Fire Department and Garland Fire Fighters Association Local 1293 are set to kick off the fire fighter’s annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association find urgently needed treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility.
Garland fire fighters will fan out across the city with boots in hand for this year’s drive on Friday, April 22, 29 and May 6. Garland will kick off the campaign with the mayor Wednesday, April 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Central Fire Station.
“For more than 60 years, fire fighters have stood on the front lines with MDA in the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of these life-threatening muscle diseases,” said Director of Business Development, Courtney Spuza. “Each year, Garland fire fighters dedicate countless hours of their time participating in their Fill the Boot drive. We’re grateful for their steadfast drive and uncommon caring toward the kids and adults we serve and look forward to working together once again to make this Fill the Boot season a huge success.”
The Fill the Boot campaign is an honored tradition in which thousands of fire fighters in hometowns across America hit the streets or storefronts asking pedestrians, motorists, customers and other passersby to make a donation to MDA, using their collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger.
Funds raised empower families with life-enhancing resources and support that open new possibilities and maximize independence so they can experience the world without any limits.
Contributions also help MDA’s efforts to fund groundbreaking research and life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and pediatric, adult and ALS MDA Care Centers at Children’s Medical Center, UT Southwestern and Texas Neurology. They also help send local kids to “the best week of the year” at MDA summer camp at no cost to their families at Camp John Marc.
MDA and IAFF partnership
As MDA’s largest national partner, the IAFF fuels MDA’s mission to find research breakthroughs across diseases; care for kids and adults from day one; and provide families with services and support.
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. 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 2015, more than 100,000 fire fighters participated across the country and raised $25.5 million. To date the IAFF has raised $583 million for MDA.
About the IAFF: The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 300,000 professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 85 percent of the nation’s population. More than 3,200 affiliates and their members protect communities in every state in the United States and in Canada.
About MDA: MDA is leading the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases; caring for individuals from day one; and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America.
Learn how you can fund cures, find care and champion the cause at mda.org.