Hundreds of dedicated firefighters will hit the streets with a boot in hand over the weekend to collect donations for a great cause.
The Jacksonville Association of Firefighters' annual Fill the Boot campaign will raise funds to help transform the lives of children with muscular dystrophy.
Anna Hopson has the strength and courage of an adult, although she is only 5 years old.
Her mother, Kathleen Hopson, says she was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease when she was 3 years old.
CMT is a neuromuscular disorder that damages the nerves in the arms and legs.
“At this point she’s a wheelchair user, she uses a power chair to get around,” Hopson said.
President of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, Randy Wise says the firefighters plan to show their support for Anna and other children with similar conditions.
“One hundred percent of these funds that the citizens are putting in the boot go directly to muscular dystrophy,” Wise said.
Money raised will go toward finding a cure and the opportunity to send more than 100 kids to summer camp.
Jacksonville currently holds the No. 2 spot in the state of Florida for firefighters collections raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“There is a lot of research happening, in the neuro muscular disease area, and one day there could be [a cure],” Hopson said.
In the past years, Wise says there has been progress.
“We’ve had really great breakthroughs with drugs that are actually showing promising effects in helping,” Wise said.
The Jacksonville Association of Firefighters hopes to raise $150,000 dollars this year.
“If you see the firefighters standing on the corners, holding their boots, donate, put your money in there, because they’re doing that for these kids,” Hopson said.
