Red Deer Fire Department hosts rooftop campout and boot drive for Muscular Dystrophy

Firefighter-Paramedic Ben Shillington, organizer of the campout, says the Red Deer Fire Department has consistently raised roughly $8,000 for the past eight years for the cause but hopes this year to raise more with their latest addition of an Interac boot for those who aren’t carrying cash.

Pedestrians can also donate in the boots hanging from the patio railing. Upon donating, the individual must blow the horn attached to the boot as a signal for the camping firefighters to pull up the boot and retrieve the funds.

“It’s always a good feeling when you get the final tally and you’re able to write that cheque knowing that it’s going to be going to a good cause like this,” he said.

Also new this year is the patio location for the campout. While previously firefighters camped on the roof, Shillington confirmed that Occupational Health and Safety notified the team that it did not have the necessary engineered railing.

Red Deer firefighters get taken by ladder truck to the rooftop of Fire Hall 3 on Friday for thier campout. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

However, Shillington says the boys will not be missing out on the experience of sleeping on cots in an outfitter tent with snacks and food donated by local grocers and restaurants.

Shillington remembered his campout five years ago when he started with the fire department. While his year was a cold but fun one, he says this year’s crew has warm weather for the day forecasts and lows of -15C overnight.

Caitlin Reid, Community Fundraising Manager for Western Canada for Muscular Dystrophy Canada, said while over 600 departments across the country support the organization in various ways, rooftop campouts are specific to Alberta.

“It’s unique, it’s different and it’s eye-catching. People want to come out and find out what’s going on, what are they doing; you don’t often see the truck sitting out here like this and it really brings the community together to support a cause that is uniquely rare and collectively very common,” she said, adding that each year is a humbling experience for her.

Reid says there are 160 types of muscular dystrophy, each having sub categories and are faced uniquely by each individual. The disease is caused by a flawed connection between the nervous system and muscle groups which cause deterioration of the muscle, hindering mobility.

The connection between firefighters and the cause began over 60 years ago when Dr. David Green, physician and co-founder of the organization, had a son who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Co-founder Arthur Minden reached out to fire departments for help with their fundraising as, Reid says, they believed firefighters were a supportive community that would rally for an important cause.

She says the funds raised go towards purchasing mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers, as well as research, which has achieved some incredible strides over the past few years. In Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), for example, the disorder affects motor neurons, or nerve cells, that control voluntary muscle movement in the spinal cord. As the muscles don’t respond to nerve signals, they weaken and shrink from lack of use. Reid says it can cause fatality in infants at the age of two if diagnosed with Type 1, typically showing signs at around five months. However today, research has developed treatment that, while it cannot reverse damage, it can stop the progression of the disease with children now living longer, says Reid.

Reid adds that the funds raised also help increase advocacy for the disease. She says last year, many provinces, with Alberta being the first, have come on board to add SMA screening to heel pricks at birth so children can be diagnosed immediately.

Those interested can donate online as well at filltheboot.ca for the Red Deer Fire Department.

by Alessia Proietti

Red Deer Fire Department hosts rooftop campout and boot drive for Muscular Dystrophy

What's Trending