CFA members are encouraged to join fire brigades across Australia who have already begun fundraising in the four-month Fill The Boot campaign.
From 4-19 October, firefighter boots will be passed in a relay from station to station via cycling, running, truck, plane in each state to collect funds raised, followed by a large amount of media.
The relay will raise money for research and supports services for the 20,000 Australians, mostly children, who have a neuromuscular condition.
The most common of these conditions is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which affects mostly boys who are diagnosed at around the age of 3 or 4. It is a slow and progressive condition and by age 10 most boys struggle to walk, and by 16, they are having difficulty breathing. There is no cure and sadly most boys do not live past their late teens or twenties.
On behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) Australia, international patron and comedian Jerry Lewis will accept the proceeds from the Fill the Boot relay when it finishes in Sydney on 19 October 2012, coinciding with the World Firefighters Games opening ceremony.
Jerry Lewis started Fill the Boot with firefighters in America as part of his role as National Chairman of MDA for more than 60 years. Jerry is responsible for initiating the first Fill The Boot relay in association with Fire & Rescue NSW.
Fill the Boot has been running in the US and Canada for more than 50 years with more than 280,000 firefighters raising funds for muscular dystrophy each year.
Register your brigade's involvement at www.filltheboot.com.au or call MDF Australia on (02) 9247 0055 to get started.
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