Firefighters hit the pavement last week asking passers-by and drivers to fill their fire boots with donations to help save and improve lives of those fighting muscle diseases.
They collected, unofficially, nearly $9,000 total manning the Northeast Eighth Street and 228th Avenue Northeast intersection in Sammamish and the Northwest Gilman Boulevard and Front Street North intersection in Issaquah Friday, June 26.
For more than 20 years, Eastside Fire & Rescue members, as part of International Association of Firefighters Local 2878, have participated in the union’s national Fill The Boot campaign to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The nonprofit aims to improve the lives of those suffering from more than 40 muscle diseases, known as a hereditary condition characterized by the progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles.
The IAFF partners with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in a national fundraising effort to help cure and treat these diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy.
The association, which began in 1950, donates 77 cents of every dollar to medical supplies, therapy and research, according to the MDA website.
“It’s a good cause — something I’ve been doing for 27 ½ years,” Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 82 Capt. Pete Sandford said standing off to the side of Northeast Eighth Street in Sammamish Friday, June 26.
Sandford, along with several others, was on duty, distinguished by his navy blue uniform and vest. On duty officers took shifts throughout the day.
Off duty firefighter were also on scene, some with their families. Firefighters collected money from 2-6 p.m.
Battalion Chief Dave McDaniel said people donate “a little bit of everything,” ranging from spare change to checks.
Last year, Eastside firefighters raised about $3,000 per intersection, Eastside Fire & Rescue Lt. Dean DeAlteriis said. DeAlteriis is the vice president of IAFF Local 2878. Since 2001, Local 2878 has raised more than $373,000, not including this years totals.
Eastside Fire & Rescue will take to the streets to fight muscular dystrophy again Sept. 18 in Issaquah, at Front Street North and West Sunset Way, Sammamish, at Northeast Eighth and 228th Avenue Northeast, and in North Bend, at Bendigo Boulevard South and North Bend Way, from 2-6 p.m.
The International Association of Fire Fighters is the largest sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, according to the IAFF website. They have teamed up for more than 60 years and, to date, have raised more than $558 million combined, according Local 2878 public relations chair Berlin Maza.
