Firefighters want to fill their boots

By Jennifer Saltman - Staff Reporter

Over the next week, local firefighters hope to be filling their boots - with money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC).

The annual boot drive is a fundraising event that will see firefighters from all three cities go out into the community between Sept. 15 and 23 to collect donations from the public.

They will join fire departments from across the province, who will try to host a record number of boot drives in September, which is Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 100 types of neuromuscular disorders characterized by the wasting and progressive weakness of muscles. Some are life-threatening, and presently, there is no cure.

"As firefighters, we joined with Muscular Dystrophy Canada 53 years ago in an effort to find a cure," says Dale Truscott, a Port Coquitlam firefighter. "We would never think about giving up and leaving a fire burning without extinguishing it, and we will not give up until we have found a cure for muscular dystrophy."

The money raised by the fire departments will be donated to MDC to improve the quality of life for people living with neuromuscular disorders by purchasing mobility equipment, providing support services and funding research.

Since 1968, Coquitlam firefighters from Local 1782 have been raising money for MDC through their annual boot drive.

In 2005, they raised more than $21,000 and have raised more than $55,000 in the last three years.

"The majority of our fundraising is done with our annual boot drive in the fall, where you will find us shaking the fire boots outside of our local businesses," says Coquitlam firefighter Bryce Ziefflie. "Our goal is to continue supporting MDC until a cure is found."

Ziefflie says firefighters are grateful to local businesses and the residents of Coquitlam for their support.

Coquitlam firefighters will be out from Sept. 15 to 17, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., shaking their boots at Coquitlam Centre, SilverCity, Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Super Valu and Real Canadian Superstore. Coquitlam firefighters will also hit the city's pubs and bars during a Sept. 16 pub crawl.

Port Coquitlam Fire and Rescue firefighters will be at Safeway, B.C. Liquor Stores and Cooper's Foods Sept. 22 to 23, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Firefighters from Port Moody will also be out Sept. 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., looking for change at the city's B.C. Liquor Store, IGA and Newport Village.

published on 09/15/2006