Philadelphia Firefighters Take Part In Annual 'Fill The Boot' Campaign
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Firefighters across the city of Philadelphia fanned out in the streets by their fire houses Friday carrying their boots instead of wearing them.
The annual "Fill the Boot" campaign is underway with firefighters collecting cash to help benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
The alliance between firefighters all over the country and Muscular Dystrophy started with a Boston firefighter who went door to door seeking donations for a friend whose two children had the disease. 50 years later Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant Greg Benner continues the tradition.
"It's just part of what we do. It's all about helping people and that is what we are doing now," Benner explains.
Sarah Mason is grateful. Her 7-year-old daughter Sierra has Muscular Dystrophy and says the MDA has done so much for her family.
"[You get] financial help and support, you get people that listen and I think it's a strength for the parents to have somewhere to turn to," Mason explains as her daughter sported pink sneakers that matched the pink wheelchair she needs to get around.
The next Fill The Boot event will be August 23rd.
