Oak Creek Firefighters Raise Record Amount for MDA

Oak Creek firefighters collected a record-high amount of money during their Fill-the-Boot campaign, held at the intersection of Howell and Puetz avenues over Labor Day weekend.

The campaign netted a total of $13,235.05 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the highest in the Oak Creek Fire Department's history, firefighter Matt Schrader said.

Fill-the-Boot is a joint fundraising effort between the International Association of Fire Fighters and the MDA, held each year in communities across the United States and Canada to help kids with MDA.

"We got an overwhelming amount of positive support and feedback when we were out there on the road collecting money, and this total just goes to show that even in tough economic times, people are still willing to help a worthy cause, especially a cause that helps children," Schrader said.

Since Fill-the-Boot started in 1954, it has raised more than $275 million, Schrader said.

The MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services and far-reaching professional and public health education.