CalFIRE firemen collecting funds for Fill the Boot fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Photo courtesy of CAL FIRE/Butte County

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Help Cal Fire Butte Unit Firefighters fill the boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Firefighters will be present in Gridley at the intersection of Highway 99 and Magnolia St. and in Oroville at the cross section of Oroville Dam Blvd East and Feather River Road.

What is fill the boot?

Since 1954, fire fighters across the country have collected critical funds in the community, one dollar at a time, as part of the Fill the Boot program to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The partnership between Muscular Dystrophy Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) began when the International Association of Fire Fighters signed a proclamation designating Muscular Dystrophy Association as its charity of choice, vowing to continue raising awareness and funds to ensure effective treatments and therapies are found. The dollars raised through Fill the Boot fund Muscular Dystrophy Association’s mission of empowering people living with neuromuscular disease to live longer, more independent lives.

It all began when a group of families affected by muscular dystrophy approached Boston Firefighters Local 718 to ask professional fire fighters to help fight muscular dystrophy. Responding enthusiastically, the fire fighters took to the streets with their boots in hand to ask Greater Boston to make donations that would be used to fight muscular dystrophy.

The Fill the Boot campaign was an instant success, with the International Association of Fire Fighters membership passing a resolution to support Muscular Dystrophy Association’s fight against muscular dystrophy until treatments and cures are found. Almost 70 years later, the International Association of Fire Fighters continues its tradition as the top fundraising organization for Muscular Dystrophy Association today, raising millions each year to support Muscular Dystrophy Association reach faster breakthroughs and stronger futures for families.

Because of the support of fire fighters, Muscular Dystrophy Association has been able to fund research directly linked to FDA-approved therapies across multiple neuromuscular diseases. These therapies are life-changing for Muscular Dystrophy Association families, giving them greater access to life's possibilities. Funding supports the advancement of care through the Muscular Dystrophy Association Care Center Network and much-needed education, recreation, advocacy, and community programs. This would not have been possible without the support of the International Association of Fire Fighters and fire fighters across the US.

We’re proud to have the International Association of Fire Fighters as our largest national partner and are thankful for the thousands of fire fighters who have participated in Fill the Boot drives across America, as well as those who have volunteered countless hours at Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camps.

For as long as it takes, we’ll be filling those boots together.