Merced firefighters to ‘fill the boot’ for muscular dystrophy

Merced firefighters will ask residents to “fill the boot” on Wednesday morning to raise money to combat muscular dystrophy.

The funds raised by the firefighters union will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, firefighters said in a news release.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms most commonly begin in childhood, though some do not surface until adulthood, according to the medical group’s website.

“Some people who have muscular dystrophy will eventually lose the ability to walk,” the Mayo Clinic website says. “Some may have trouble breathing or swallowing. There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. But medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.”

The money will help provide support groups, medical clinics, medical equipment and the annual youth summer camp that is completely wheelchair-accessible, including the swimming pool, according to the Merced City Firefighters Local 1479.

“For more than six decades, firefighters have fueled MDA’s mission to find treatments for life-threatening muscular diseases that take away people’s ability to walk, move, smile, talk and even breathe,” firefighters said in the statement.

Firefighters will be at Olive and G streets from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Merced firefighters to ‘fill the boot’ for muscular dystrophy."