Help Batavia Firefighters Fight Muscular Dystrophy Aug. 31 at Rt. 31 and Wilson

Batavia firefighters want you to help fill a boot for a good cause on Fridays in August.

The is taking part in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual "Fill the Boot" national campaign. The money raised will benefit children and adults that are affected by neuromuscular diseases.

The fundraiser began on Aug. 17, continued Aug. 24 and will conclude on Aug. 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The drive will be held at the intersection of Rt. 31 (Batavia Ave.) and Wilson Street in Batavia.

Local MDA Fill the Boot Ambassadors, Ryan & Austin Edminson (12 and 3 years old) and their family, plan to attend the boot drive and show their support for those volunteering their time to help in the fight against muscle disease. 

This will be the department’s third consecutive year time participating in the Fill the Boot campaign. They hope to raise $3,000, funding the cost to send Ryan and Austin to MDA’s free clinics to see specialists at MDA’s Chicagoland hospitals as well as fund the cost of Ryan’s weeklong trip to MDA Summer Camp.

“I believe citizens will be willing to donate to these drives because they know MDA is important to so many families in the local community,” Firefighter Chris Neal said. “Firefighters are all about public service and giving back to those in need, and we see this campaign as a fundamental continuation of that.”

Funds raised assist with funding local MDA clinics, support groups and summer camp. Also, nationally MDA continues to fund research to find a cure for each of the 43 forms of muscular dystrophy.

“It is programs like Fill the Boot that help MDA provide help and hope to local families,” said MDA Fundraising Coordinator, Allison Gronski.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. In addition to funding more than 330 research teams worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics; orchestrates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases and facilitates extraordinary local summer camp opportunities for thousands of youngsters fighting progressive muscle diseases.