Firefighters fundraise to fight muscular disease

Havre firefighters will be raising money for Montanans with muscular dystrophy in the annual "Fill the Boot" event scheduled for Friday.

Local firefighters will be on the corners of Third and Fourth avenues along First Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., collecting money.

President of the firefighters union DJ Olson said the department raised a record $13,356 last year. This year, the men hope to do the same, if not better. This year, he added, a card reader will be available for those who do not have cash.

The Havre Fire Department is the fourth-largest Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser in Montana, just behind the ones in Billings, Great Falls and Missoula. The department is 46th in the nation when it comes to fund-raising.

Last year, the International Association of Firefighter Local 601 won a Determination Award for the greatest percent fundraising increase in one year, 57 percent.

Olson said a daughter of Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Justin Kallenberger, Cadence, is the Montana MDA ambassador. Cadence kicked off her ambassadorship at Lincoln-McKinley Primary School March 21.

Olson said some Havre businesses will also join in the fundraising effort.

Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza will donate 20 percent of their Tuesday proceeds to the cause. Murphy' Pub will donate a portion of the proceeds from the pints they sell Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And Triple Dog Brewing Co. will hang a boot in their establishment Friday to help out the efforts.