Lynchburg firefighters have boots on the ground to fill the boot for muscular dystrophy – Lynchburg News and Advance

This year, collecting donations to go toward research for treating muscular dystrophy during the Lynchburg Fire Departments Fill the Boot campaign has a different meaning for David Cox.

Cox had worked for the department for more than 15 years but retired at the beginning of August after he was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disease, at the end of May. Like other muscular dystrophy-related diseases, Myasthenia Gravis weakens muscles as an autoimmune disease that damages connections between nerves and muscles, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Hed participated in the departments fundraisers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for years and decided to come back post-retirement to help out again this year.

It really does mean more now, you know, he said. Out here today, my legs were shaking this morning I was like, I dont know if Im going to do it, but I said, Why not? Its for a good cause. I can suck it up for three or four hours and just do it.

Some days, Cox said he can only take a few steps before becoming exhausted and needing to rest 10 to 15 minutes, whereas he was able to exercise normally before starting to get sick.

Ive seen both sides of the spectrum Ive seen people who are in worse shape than I am and people that are in better shape than I am and its because of the donations from these folks going to this research, he said. Im first hand, and I can see that its working because without the medicines, I wouldnt be standing here right now.

Although he retired from the Lynchburg Fire Department, Cox also has volunteered with the Altavista Fire Company. With his own medications costing hundreds of dollars per month, he said the decreased financial burden on those with muscular dystrophy, the research and opportunities for free childrens summer camp sessions are worthwhile donations that hes seen at work.

Lynchburg firefighters started out stationed around city shopping centers and watering holes to collect money Monday and will keep at it until Sunday. Cox stood outside the Wards Road Walmart on Tuesday afternoon collecting money alongside a handful of firefighters from the Fort Avenue station. Fire Capt. Matt Smith said personnel had collected a decent chunk of change Monday over a relatively short period of time with boots in hand.

Smith and the others were in and out of the entrance into the stores between calls, since theyre still on duty. Others from their station were out by the Wards Road Target store, since Smith said they want to be visible during peak hours when they know people will be out and about. Their station has a bit of leg up with firefighters collecting from their first due area, within which theyre expected to respond to emergencies first, they have shopping and Liberty University traffic to ask for donations.

We always want to beat our previous years totals, but every penny goes to helping, so well take whatever is given, Smith said.

Lynchburgs Fill the Boot collected about $22,000 in 2016, according to fire department Capt. Abbey Johnston, who coordinates the departments collections for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The fire department has been working up to the amounts theyd raised years ago, when they could stand in intersections with the boots. When Lynchburg ordinances changed in the mid-2000s to restrict panhandling, both Johnston and Smith said their collection took a dent. Now, the department has to get permission from businesses to collect.

It took us a while to figure out how to adjust from not being in the streets; of course, this is much safer for us, Smith said.

This years fundraising for the association will accompany proceeds from the departments sale of the Women of the LFD calendar, an effort Johnson put together. Between the calendar and Fill the Boot efforts, she said the department hopes to surpass previous years donations.

Excerpt from:
Lynchburg firefighters have boots on the ground to fill the boot for muscular dystrophy - Lynchburg News and Advance