08/09/17 — Fill the Boot begins Friday

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Fill the Boot begins Friday

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 9, 2017 8:39 PM

Goldsboro firefighters will be in front of the Spence Avenue Walmart Friday, Saturday and Sunday asking people to "fill the boot" for muscular dystrophy awareness.

The goal of the campaign, which is happening in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is to raise money to help children and adults with degenerative muscular diseases to live longer and grow stronger.

Capt. Rob Loreman of the Goldsboro Fire Department said the money will go in part toward helping send kids to a muscular dystrophy camp. That camp is named Camp Hanes.

Loreman said local firefighters have been helping support the MDA with the Fill the Boot campaign since the early 2000s.

This campaign to support the MDA began across the nation in 1954, with this year marking its 63rd year.

"We are thrilled to be working with the Goldsboro Fire Department this year through their Fill the Boot campaign to help provide the funds needed to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility," said MDA Executive Director Melissa Sinclair.

Firefighters will be at Walmart each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., asking pedestrians, drivers and customers alike to put donations in their boots.

In addition to helping send children to camp, donations help fund research and support-group programs.