With just one week left in the annual fundraising campaign to find a cure for muscular dystrophy, St. Albert firefighters have already exceeded their $40,000 goal.
Greg Harvey, spokesperson for St. Albert Fire Serves, said at last count donations totalled $45,000.
“We’ve surpassed our goal and it keeps climbing,” said Harvey, who was one of five firefighters that camped out for four days on the rooftop of Fire Station #2 on Boudreau Road.
He said the rooftop campers have been pampered with good weather the past two years, but last week’s frigid temperatures brought them back to reality.
“The first night we slept barely a wink. It was 32 below,” he admitted.
The firefighters were saved by a local company that donated a heater for their tent. Harvey said the generosity of St. Albertans has been immense.
“The amount of people that donated coffee, donuts, as well as donations to Muscular Dystrophy Canada was overwhelming to say the least.”
Firefighters kept busy last week flagging down hundreds of cars on Boudreau Road and Bellerose Drive, giving tours of the station and rooftop campsite to those who stopped by.
They even got some special visitors, children with muscular dystrophy.
“We were able to lift (one girl) onto the roof and that just made her day – to be able to come up to the campsite on the roof in her wheelchair,” noted Harvey.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases characterized by the gradual weakening and wasting of muscle.
Firefighters adopted Muscular Dystrophy Canada as their official charity in 1954, an organization they committed to keep donating their time and effort to until a cure is found.
The money raised through annual campaigns goes towards the purchase of mobility equipment, support services for patients and funding research.
Last year St. Albert firefighters raised more than $47,000. The firefighters will also be accepting donations at their upcoming Fire and Ice event on Family Day, Feb. 17, at Lacombe Lake Park from noon to 4 p.m. More information will be in Saturday’s Gazette.
If you missed your chance to donate during the rooftop campout, the firefighters will still be collecting donations at the Fire and Ice Family Day Festival at Lacombe Lake Park Feb. 17.
St. Albert firefighters will also be holding an online silent auction at www.stalbertfirefighters.com. <br />Items, all donated by local companies, will be on display at Fire Station #3 at 100 Giroux Road. To place a bid, email [email protected]. The auction ends Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.
