Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – May 13, 2024 – The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has collected critical funds in the United States since 1954 – one dollar at a time – as part of the Fill the Boot program for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Jonesboro Professional Fire Fighters Local #3718 will continue this long-standing tradition as its members kick off the annual program raising funds to support MDA’s vision to accelerate research, advanced care, and advocate to empower families living with muscular dystrophy, ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease), and related neuromuscular diseases in support of the families MDA serves.
Dedicated fire fighters from Local #3718 will hit the streets with boots in hand asking pedestrians, motorists, customers, and other passersby to donate to MDA on Friday May 17th at 7AM to 6PM, at the intersection of Red Wolf Blvd and Nettleton Ave.
The partnership between MDA and IAFF began in 1954 when the IAFF signed a proclamation designating MDA its charity of choice and vowing to continue raising awareness and funds until cures are found. To date, the nearly seven-decade partnership has raised more than $690 million with involvement from over 334,000 fire fighters nationwide. These funds have led in part to 19 FDA approved drugs for neuromuscular disease in the last 15 years with many more on the horizon. Those treatments are a reality today due to MDA’s vision; to build a new field of medicine in neuromuscular disease and push the boundaries of the medical frontier we call genetic medicine.
“For almost 70 years, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Fill the Boot campaign has raised critical funds for research and care for people who live with a neuromuscular disease, and we are honored to be a part of their effort for this important mission,” said Jason Oleson, President of the Jonesboro Professional Fire Fighters Local #3718.