Palos Firefighters Kick Off 'Fill the Boot' Efforts

Members of the Palos Fire Protection District Local #4480, along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, will celebrate their 60-year partnership and kick off the fire fighters' annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to benefit children and adults affected by muscle disease throughout the Palos Park area.
            

Members of the Palos Fire Protection District will fan out across the city with boots in hand for this year’s drive on May 9,  June 13, and July 18 at the intersections of LaGrange and 123rd and Route 83 and Southwest Highway.

“Throughout 2014 MDA and fire fighters are celebrating 60 years of proud partnership, joined together in the fight against life-threatening muscle disease, said MDA Fundraising Coordinator, Christine Richardson. “Fire fighters do more for MDA and the families we serve than any other group, dedicating countless hours of their time every year participating in Fill the Boot drives and at MDA Summer Camp. We're grateful for the support of these inspiring, selfless individuals who have made a profound impact on our families’ health, well-being and quality of life, and we're excited to make this year’s Palos Fill the Boot campaign the most successful yet.”

Funds raised through 2014 Palos Fill the Boot event will help support MDA's programs of worldwide research, specialized health care services, and day-to-day support—which includes sending children affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases to a weeklong, barrier-free MDA summer camp at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Hudson, Illinois.

As the Muscular Dystrophy Association's largest national sponsor, the IAFF fuels MDA's mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases.  

The IAFF is a major contributing sponsor of the MDA Show of Strength Telethon, and IAFF contributions from charity baseball games and other local events help support MDA's efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.

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 to this day. 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 2013, more than 100,000 fire fighters participated in Fill the Boot events across the country and raised $26.2 million. To date the IAFF has raised $530 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
            The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. Visit mda.org and follow us at facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews.