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Dateline Fairfield August 1st 2009 The members of Local 1426 were feeling the heat in a different sort of way on August 1st 2009 as they hit the pavement on Black Rock Turnpike and other key locations around town for the annual “Fill the Boot” drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Temps in the high 80’s and humidity at close to 100% wouldn’t keep them from their goal of collecting as much money as possible for MDA. For the sixth straight year Local 1426 teamed up with Trader Joe’s for their “Community Day” where they cook Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, provide the entertainment (DJ Jimmy was great) and balloons and face painting for the kids. All proceeds from the event are graciously donated to the 1426 “Fill the Boot”. “We can’t thank Trader Joe’s enough for all they have done to help promote this event and make the “Fill the Boot “drive a huge success.”, Said Local 1426 Secretary and MDA Co-Chair Phil Higgins. “It really is a community day.” Local 1426 carries on the proud tradition of collecting money for MDA started some 40 years ago in Fairfield. MDA is the national charity of the IAFF and fire fighters across both the USA and Canada have helped raise over $300 Million dollars since the first boot drive back in 1954 in Boston. Local 1426 President Bob Smith stated, “It was a very hot day but everyone just did their best to stay cool and raise money. We will sweat it out if we know that the effort will someday, soon I hope, find a cure for all neuromuscular disease.” Local 1426 has raised close to $80,000 over the last seven years for MDA with the “Fill the Boot” drive and the Santa ride which will be back this December. A job well done to all those helped out both on duty and off, with set up and clean up, and sorting and counting the money. At the time of this story the final numbers were not in yet but Treasurer Justin Greenhaw stated the total was close to $11,000.
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