photo by Bruce Garner
Four boys and their families got to have some fun Thursday morning when they gave the signal that started four fire companies off on their fundraising drive on Thursday for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Three of the four boys are "MDA Ambassadors" and they appreciate what the firefighters are trying to do for them and many other children afflicted by these terrible diseases.
For the next three days (Aug. 25-27), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 370 firefighters will fan out across the city with boots in hand to collect donations for MDA. Last year the Chattanooga Fire Department finished first in the state by raising $84,063. This year's goal is to raise $100,000 for MDA. The funds raised support research to find urgently needed treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility. The funds also support the MDA Care Center at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, and they help send local kids to MDA summer camp at no cost to their families. The Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, Local 820 is also a key sponsor of this fundraising drive.
Starting on Thursday, look for Chattanooga firefighters at the following locations:
Quint 1 – 4th St and Mable St
Ladder 1 – Main St. & Central
Squad 1 – Broad St. & Aquarium Way
Quint 2 – Market St & Main St
Quint 3 – Entrance of Walmart & Cummings Rd
Engine 4 – Dodson Ave & Wilcox Blvd
Engine 5 – Main St & Willow St
Quint 4 – Bailey Ave & Willow St
Quint 6 – Bonny Oaks Dr & Hwy 58
Quint 7 – Lee Hwy & Relocation Way (Food City)
Squad 7 – Jenkins Rd (intersection by Tiger Mart)
Quint 8 – Shallowford Rd & Hamilton Place Blvd
Engine 9 – Rossville Blvd & Dodds Ave
Quint 10 – Wilder St & Dodson Ave
Engine 12 – Frazier Ave & Forrest Ave
Quint 13 – Greenway View Dr & Brainerd Rd
Squad 13 – Igou Gap Rd & Gunbarrel Rd
Quint 14 – St. Elmo Ave & 38th St
Engine 15 – Moore Rd & Shallowford Rd
Quint 16 – Lupton Dr & Hixson Pike
Quint 17 – Mountain Creek Rd & Signal Mtn Blvd
Quint 19 – North Point Rd & Hixson Pike
Squad 19 – North Point Rd & Hixson Pike
Squad 20 – Brown Ferry Rd & Cummings Rd
Quint 21 – E. Brainerd Rd & Graysville Rd (Walmart parking lot)
Engine 22 – Walmart Entrance and Exit behind Chik-Fil-A on Hwy 153
No streets and/or intersections will be closed during the event.
“For more than 60 years, firefighters have stood on the front lines with MDA in the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of these life-threatening muscle diseases,” said Executive Director Ashley Davis. “Each year, Chattanooga firefighters dedicate countless hours of their time participating in Fill the Boot drives and at MDA Summer Camp. We're grateful for their steadfast drive and uncommon caring toward the kids and adults we serve and look forward to working together once again to make this Fill the Boot season a huge success.”