Lynchburg Fire Department starting ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign this weekend

LYNCHBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) – For the 22nd year in a row, the Lynchburg Fire Department is raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association ( MDA ) in its fill-the-boot campaign.

Firefighters will be stationed throughout Hill City holding their boots out for anyone to come by and donate. Their goal is to raise $60,000 this year.

“Last year we raised $53,000, and we know we can do better,” Steve Smallshaw , the strategic communications specialist for the Lynchburg Fire Department, said. “The Lynchburg community has always responded when we go out there and we ask for their help.”

Cash or checks will be accepted by the department. People can also donate online on the Fill the Boot website.

All the money will go towards research for finding treatments and possibly a cure for different neuro-muscular diseases.

“This especially hits close to home for some of our firefighter family, who have lost family members to diseases like ALS, or they have a child who was born with a neuromuscular disease,” Smallshaw said. “It’s very personal for some of the folks here and that’s why they want to be a part of this.”

The campaign will run through October 27.

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