LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Lima firefighters will be on the streets this week to help improve lives in another way.
Starting Thursday, Aug. 21, and running through Saturday, Aug. 23, members of the Lima Fire Department Local 334 will be outside Station 3 at the corner of Robb Avenue and North West Street for their annual Fill the Boot campaign. The money collected goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Last year, the department donated its largest amount yet, $16,000.
Firefighters are asking the public to drop cash and coins into their boots or scan the QR code on the boot to make a donation later. Around 1 in 5,000 people are affected by some form of muscular dystrophy, and for some in the Lima Fire Department, the mission to help in the fight hit close to home.
“It became personal for me. I started helping before I realized my mother-in-law ended up having ALS, Lou Gehrig's, and that is a form of muscular dystrophy. There's 43 different kinds of muscular dystrophy, and she ended up having one of them. And it just, it hit home,” said Jeremy Welker, retired Lima firefighter.
The public can support Fill the Boot by visiting firefighters at the corner of Robb Avenue and North West Street. Collections will run Thursday, Aug. 21, and Friday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All money raised goes to the MDA to help those battling muscular dystrophy live longer and happier lives.
