Members of Rockdale County Fire-Rescue are set to kick off the firefighter’s annual “Fill the Boot” fundraising campaign to  help the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) find urgently needed treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility.

MDA’s spirited “Fill the Boot” campaign is an honored tradition in which thousands of dedicated firefighters in hometowns across America hit the streets or storefronts asking pedestrians, motorists, customers and other passersby to make a donation to MDA, using their collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger.

More than 140 firefighters from Fire-Rescue will fan out with boots in hand at locations throughout the County. They will be collecting during three consecutive Friday and Saturdays during the weekends of August 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27.

Firefighters will be at the following locations collecting donations:

•         Kroger – 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturdays
•         Lowes Home Improvement – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
•         Home Depot – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
•         Starbucks – 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
•         Chick-Fil-A – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

“For more than sixty years, firefighters have stood on the front lines with MDA in the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of these life-threatening muscle diseases,” Fundraising Coordinator Nikki Knight said.

“Each year, Rockdale County firefighters dedicate countless hours of their time participating in Fill the Boot drives and at MDA Summer Camp. We’re grateful for their steadfast drive and uncommon caring toward the kids and adults we serve and look forward to working together once again to make this Fill the Boot season a huge success.”

“Funds raised this year through the event empower families with life-enhancing resources and support that opens new possibilities and maximizes independence so they can experience the world without any limits,” Knight said.

In addition to Fill the Boot drives, firefighter contributions from year-round local events help support MDA’s efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.

Contributions also help MDA’s efforts to fund groundbreaking research and life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and Care Centers, including the MDA Care Center at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. They also help send more than 100 local kids to “the best week of the year” at MDA summer camp at no cost to their families at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA.

To learn more about MDA, visit www.mda.org. Follow or like Fire-Rescue on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RockdaleFireRescue.