By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Helena firefighters, along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, kicked off the firefighters’ annual ‘Fill the Boot’ fundraising campaign to help save and improve the lives of people fighting muscle disease in the Helena 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.

The Helena Fire Department fanned out across the city with boots in hand for this year’s drive on Sept. 4-6 at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Highway 17.

After calculating the totals, the Helena Fire Department raised $1,034 over the three-day span.

Helena Fire Chief John Wilder was pleased to partner with the MDA and raise funds for the organization.

“We were very pleased by it,” said Wilder. “We have a crew there with the boot those three days and have the donations placed in an actual firefighter boot. Our goal was to send at least one child to summer camp and the cost is $800 per child and we were able to do that. The MDA is a very worthwhile organization and we enjoy partnering with them.”

Terri Wilson, Executive Director of MDA in North Central Alabama, and her team were appreciative of the amazing support of firefighters and the communities that support the “Fill the Boot” program.

“Firefighters are such amazing supporters of MDA and are truly MDA heroes,” said Wilson. “Because of their participation through the ‘Fill the Boot’ program and the giving hearts of the citizens in their communities, MDA is able to continue in the mission of finding treatments and cures for over 40 types of neuromuscular diseases through ground-breaking research as well as provide services to families. The contributions are truly making a difference in the lives of others. On behalf of MDA and families, thank you.”

Funds raised through 2015 Helena Fill the Boot event 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 Program at Children’s of Alabama, The Kirklin Clinic at UAB Hospital, and Spain Rehabilitation Center in Alabama.

They also make MDA Summer Camp possible so children with muscle disease can enjoy “the best week of the year” at Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap, Ala. and nearly 80 other locations nationwide.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading non-profit health agency dedicated to saving and improving the lives of anyone with muscle disease, including muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases.