It only took two days for Burnaby firefighters to raise $36,000 for one of their favourite charities.
Burnaby firefighters hit the streets on Nov. 16 and 17 for the annual Fire Fighters Boot Drive for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the final numbers came to $36,000. Firefighters presented a cheque for that amount on Jan. 16.
"Everybody gets involved," said Rob Lamoureux, president of the Burnaby Firefighters IAFF Local 323 and the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. "Almost all of our 282 members were out there on that Friday night and all day Saturday and we were very happy to raise what we raised - $35,000 was our benchmark and we were able to get there. Of course, we want to do more, but we're happy with how we did."
During that November weekend, Burnaby firefighters were at locations all across the city, including B.C. liquor stores at Willingdon Avenue and Hastings Street, Brentwood Town Centre and HighGate shopping centre; the Safeway store at Willingdon Avenue and Hastings Street; Costco locations at Still Creek Avenue and Brighton Avenue; Kensington Square plaza; Metropolis at Metrotown; and Lougheed Mall.
In 2011, firefighters raised $2.9 million for the cause, of which $30,000 came from Burnaby firefighters.
Since 1954, Canadian firefighters have been helping Muscular Dystrophy Canada fight the battle against muscular dystrophy - a group of more than 150 types of neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness.
Over time, many people with neuromuscular disorders are eventually unable to speak, walk or even breath. Some diseases are life-threatening and, at present, there is no cure.
www.twitter.com/AlfieLau
