Norton Fire Local #2678 Raises Over $3k for Muscular Dystrophy Association

From Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, members of Norton Fire Local #2678 took off their boots and filled them with over $3,300 worth of donations during the five day Fill the Boot drive to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The firefighters, led by Norton Firefighter Ed Burgess who is the MDA chairperson, set up boots at for the Deutsche Bank golf event.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is MDA’s largest sponsor, having contributed more than $475 million since the partnership began in 1954. Seventy-seven percent of every dollar raised from this event provides services to 2,500 residents of Massachusetts living with muscle disease. 

Fill the Boot funds support MDA’s services locally and nationally, including medical clinics staffed by the top health professionals skilled in the diagnosis and medical management of neuromuscular diseases. Clinics also include consultations and recommendations for programs of physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapy; genetic counseling; and assessments for needed mobility and communication equipment. UMass Memorial Medical Center, Mass General Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Medical Center and Lahey Clinic in Burlington are the local clinics that will benefit from the Norton Fire Local #2678 boot drive. 

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides health care and support services, advocacy and education.

Norton Fire also holds an annual St. Patty’s Day Corned Beef Dinner on March 17th and raised another $500 this year putting them at $3,800 for the year.