Battle Against Muscular Dystrophy is Personal for San Marcos Firefighter

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Michael Vasile, a San Marcos Firefighter and Paramedic, is responsible for organizing his department's Muscular Dystrophy "Fill The Boot" Drive, which takes place every year on San Marcos Boulevard.  Vasile explains, "It is especially important to our organization and our cause because my younger brother Cole got diagnosed when he was five.  When I got hired on with San Marcos, they did not have a 'Fill The Boot' program in place, so we went ahead and started it, and we've been participating ever since."

Cole Vasile, Michael's brother who lives with Muscular Dystrophy, comments, "My brother has always been a really good guy. . . my disease has probably been as hard on him as it's been on me."

Cole is presently in a wheelchair.  He has lost muscle control of his legs and the disease is starting to spread into his arms, as well as his vital organs.  With modern advances in medicine, such as stem cell research, the funds gathered through programs like "Fill the Boot" help to further support the efforts being made to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy.  The San Macros Fire Firefighters are more than willing to step up and help a family member of one of their own. 

In terms of finding the motivation for starting your department's "Fill The Boot" program, Vasile recommends, "It just takes a little bit of motivation. . . not that hard to do. . . people are willing to donate to a good cause, and it's great for morale, team building."

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