Firefighters To Collect 'Fill The Boot' Donations In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The "Fill the Foot" campaign to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association will return to Alexandria starting Tuesday.

The campaign will be managed by the Alexandria Fire Fighters Local 2141 firefighters union. Firefighters will collect donations at various locations around the city on Tuesday into the next week. Online donations are also accepted.

Donations fund research for new treatments for muscular dystrophy, support MDA Care Centers and provide support to families affected by muscular dystrophy.

"Fill the Boot" will be a coordinated effort of on-duty Alexandria Fire Department personnel Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department personnel, and off-duty volunteers. Volunteers may include family and friends and will be recruited from IAFF, the Police Benevolent Association, Black Fire Service Professionals of Alexandria and the Alexandria Professional Medics Association.

Donations will be collected at the following locations and times:

Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 3, 7-9

• King Street/Washington Street
• King Street/Braddock Road/Quaker Lane
• George Washington Parkway/Slaters Lane
• Duke Street/Patrick Street
• Seminary Road/Beauregard Street
• Duke Street/Quaker Lane
• Van Dorn Street/Edsall Road
• Richmond Highway/East Glebe Road

Other events

• Old Town Farmers’ Market (Sept. 4 and 11)
• West End Farmers’ Market (Sept. 5 and 12)
• King Street/Union Street (Sept. 3, 4, 10, 11)

"Fill the Boot" has been a fundraising initiative of the International Association of Fire Fighters for 67 years. According to the "Fill the Boot" website, 11 new drugs for neuromuscular diseases have gained approval in the last five years in part because of fundraising support for research. Thousands of firefighters nationwide have collected donations and volunteered at MDA Summer Camps.