Riverside City Fire Department's Muscular Dystrophy Association Fill the Boot Campaign

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Muscular Dystrophy, a group of muscular diseases that involve muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue that get worse over time, devastatingly affects many. Firefighters across the nation participate in the "Fill the Boot" campaign, in which firefighters ask citizens for donations that will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Founded in 1950, the MDA combats Muscular Dystrophy by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public.

For the last three years, the Riverside City Fire Department has participated in "Fill the Boot" with full support from the city. A member of the Riverside City Council, Steve Adams, assisted firefighters with collecting money during their latest Fill the Boot Campaign. "It's a great cause and anything that they need, and anything that we can provide, time off or take them out of service, whatever it takes, we're there for it. It's a privilege to be able to come out with the guys and support the cause. I'm not as cute as these guys, so I don't do quite as well as they do, but we did pretty good," remarked Adams.

Ashley Garcia, one of the many children helped by the Muscular Dystrophy Association stated, "I love my firefighters. They're amazing. Throughout my life, they have always been there. It means a lot to me just to be out here, because they are out here trying to get money for us, and it's dangerous with these cars sometimes. They give us hope that one day we can walk one time, and we can dance, because my dream is to one day dance." Ashley Garcia attends events around the Riverside area as often as possible to support the Riverside City Fire Department and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Courtney Janes, Executive Director for the MDA in Orange & Riverside Counties, expressed, "Riverside City is just an exceptional department. They do really well for us with the "Fill the Boot". Last year we raised about $30,000. They've been able to develop relationships and create that personal bond with so many of our staff and families that are served by MDA. They see the importance of what it means to do these events to raise funds, to help support our services and the families that they've grown to know."

Over the years, Riverside City firefighters have learned new ways to help make their campaign successful. "The big thing is letting people know way down the road that we're here. So the further down we can get signage, the better off we are," explained Riverside City Fire Department Engineer & MDA Fill the Boot Chairman Vince Rodgers. The Riverside City Fire Department works with local business partnerships to spread the word, along with the local newspaper which provides the public service advertisements. Rodgers claimed that they also send out a city-wide email blast to every city employee prior to each "Fill the Boot" campaign.

Every year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association puts on a boot camp to help firefighters learn how to raise money. According to Engineer Rodgers, this allows firefighters to "transfer information from departments and the guys really are helpful. We have little break out sessions, and you get different ideas." In 2009, the City of Riverside was in the top 10 of all the Fill the Boot campaigns in the State of California. In 2010, they were able to collect over $19,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

For more information on the Muscular Dystrophy Association, please visit http://www.mdausa.org/.

Contributors to this Story

Barbara Brooks - Video Report
Anna Sweeney - Camera/Editor
Renee Marquart - Text Story



Author:B. Brooks, A. Sweeney, R. Marquart - FDNNTV.com