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Local Firefighters, MDA Want Residents' Help In 60th 'Fill The Boot' Campaign

Sascha Cordner
/
WFSU-FM
Muscular Dystrophy Association area director Crystal Rayls (middle) and Tallahassee Fire Dept. Spokesman Mike Bellamy (far right) are on the corner of Monroe and Tennessee, hoping to get donations for their annual "Fill the Boot" campaign.

Tallahassee Firefighters are asking area residents to help with their 60th annual “Fill the Boot” campaign.

On the corner of Tennessee and Monroe, several firefighters wade through stopped traffic with a black boot in their hands. That boot, if they’re fortunate, has money in it, and both Tallahassee Fire Department spokesman Mike Bellamy and the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s area director Crystal Ralys say it’s all for a good cause.

“We’re raising money to fight muscular dystrophy and the MDA is the association that’s in charge of finding a cure and supplying the need and supporting the local families one of the local families that have one of the 40 or 50 neuro-muscular diseases. So, we need money to help that association do its thing,said Bellamy.

“And, what we do is provide services for local Leon Families go to clinic, get flu shots, get durable medical equipment, and also, send any of our children affected by neuro-muscular disease to our MDA Summer Camp every year,” added Ralys. “So, if they [anyone] see the firefighters out, please donate to the boot. It’s definitely going to local families.”

Firefighters will be at nine intersections on Friday and three on Saturday. They hope to raise $40,000. Last year, they raised $30,000.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.