Firefighters to fill their boots

Havre firefighters will be celebrating their 60-year partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association with their annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign.

The money will be donated directly to children and adults who are affected by the muscle disease in the Havre area.

Bridget Kallenberger, whose two daughters have been diagnosed with the disease, said firefighters approached her and her family to ask them to be the honorary guests of the fundraiser this year. She said they will be at the donation barbecue, which is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

She said that MDA helps pay for her two daughters with muscular dystrophy to go to MDA camps and clinic visits in Spokane.

"It's pretty amazing what they do at the camps for the kids," she said. She said that she hopes she will be able to get her daughters out of school Friday so they can have a chance to meet the people who donate to them.

"They will be there hanging out for the day helping to bring some attention to this topic," the press release reads. "Their family has been affected by muscular dystrophy, and we believe it's important for everyone to know that this is an issue right here in Havre and that every single dollar bill that's raised in Montana stays in Montana for those that are affected by it, through assistance, research and camps."

More that 15 firefighters will be around the city with boots to collect money Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 3rd Avenue and 1st Street. A donation barbecue will be going on at Town Square from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The money collected from the barbecue will go to the families as well.

The HFD is part of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which is the largest national sponsor of the MDA. IAFF support for MDA began in 1954 and has raised $530 million for the nonprofit since then.