EDMONTON – Firefighters from Edmonton, Strathcona County, Spruce Grove and St. Albert began their annual rooftop campout Sunday morning in support of Muscular Dystrophy.
Their goal is to raise over $25,000 this year.
Four groups of firefighters from each region will spend four days camping atop their local fire halls, coming down Wednesday at noon.
“We are lucky that we are healthy and we don’t have to deal with this, but we have three families here today that– that’s not the case for them,” said Lawreen Barber, a 911 dispatch operator in Strathcona County. “We’re raising money and awareness and we want people to know what this disease is about and what it does to these families.”
Firefighter have been supporting muscular dystrophy since 1954, when they banded together to support a fellow firefighter whose son was diagnosed with the neuromuscular disorder.
Locally, firefighters throughout the Capital Region have been supporting the cause through annual rooftop campouts since 2006, raising over $1.86-million.
“When you meet those affected by Muscular Dystrophy, you can’t help but be moved. They are heros. They inspire me, and all firefighters participating in rooftop campouts,” said Edmonton firefighter Courtney Polson.
Firefighters will be out in their communities throughout the week holding ‘boot drives’ and collecting donations.
You can also donate at muscle.ca/campout.
