Milton Firefighters Raise Thousands for Muscular Dystrophy

Milton firefighters raised more than $10,000 in just the first 12 hours they spent standing on street corners with boots in hand for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Fill-A-Boot Campaign, and City Council gave them recognition at the June 6 meeting for their work.

The department has participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Fill-A-Boot Campaign since 2007. They ranked third during last year's campaign in terms of raising the most money of all participating firefighters in Georgia with $48,715, according to MDA fundraising coordinator Angela Brown.

This year is starting off with a bang also. Collection began at 7 a.m. Friday, June 3 at various Milton intersections, including Windward Parkway and Birmingham Highway. By 7 p.m. the fire department had raised $10,200.

Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles over time. There is no known cure but the Muscular Dystrophy Association is working to change that.

“Seventy seven percent of every dollar that MDA spends goes directly to research, services and education; 14 percent to fundraising and 9 percent for administration costs,” said Brown.

The Eggleston family was also honored at for their work with Muscular Dystrophy. Six-year-old Kyle Eggelston, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and is an ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. DMD is a degenerative disease that eventually affects all voluntary muscles, as well as the heart and breathing muscles.

Kyle loves watching Transformers and Star Wars and, like any other 6 year-old boy, enjoys playing with cars when he’s not busy wrestling with his younger brother. All money raised by Milton firefighters go to help kids like Kyle.

“In July, Kyle will attend our summer camp in Rutledge, GA for the first time,” said Brown.

The camp that Brown is referring to is Camp Twin Lakes, a network of camps through Georgia that provides kids with serious illness or disabilities and unforgettable experience.

Aside from camps, MDA also helps fund flu shots, support groups, therapy and much more.

Keep an eye out for future Fill-The-Boot campaigns on June 24, July 8, July 29, Aug. 12 and Sept. 2 throughout the Milton area.

A check will be presented during the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon that will premier on the CW network Labor Day weekend, September 4. This annual telethon is the most successful televised fund-raising special in history.

“Firefighters are not only heroes in our community but they are special heroes to the 2,200 patient families MDA serves in the area,” says Brown.

For more information on how to get involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, contact www.mda.org.