By Sadie Hunter
Over Labor Day weekend, Westfield Fire Department firefighters hit the streets of the city for a good cause.
Their annual “Filling the Boot” fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association raises money for local families in Hamilton County who are fighting with muscle diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, muscular dystrophy and other diseases that deteriorate the ability to walk, move, make facial expressions, or even breathe.
Taking over two of the busiest intersections of the city, firefighters took their boots to take donations from vehicles and pedestrians passing by at the Union Street and Ind. 32, and E. Greyhound Pass and Cool Creek Park Road on Sept. 4, 5 and 6, for three and a half hours each day.
Firefighter Jason Maners said Labor Day weekend is a great time to hold the annual event.
“These events are pretty regular around Labor Day, but now they’ve kind of opened it up to really any time during the summer,” he said. “We still kind of stick to (Labor Day) just because it’s a three-day weekend, and a lot of people are traveling.”
Maners said 11 different firefighters gave their time to take part in the event each day.
“We did pretty well our first day,” he said. “Last year we raised $8,000 total, and just (Sept. 3), we raised $3,500.”
In the three days of work, Maners said the group of firefighters was able to raise $13,130 for MDA.
