Kaua‘i firefighters fill the boot

LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i firefighters had an opportunity to be recognized for more than their usually-seen routines of fighting fires and saving lives.

Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. was joined by Kaua‘i’s Muscular Dystrophy Association family in offering a proclamation celebrating the Hawai‘i Fire Fighters Association Kaua‘i Division Recognition Day that was celebrated Aug. 11.

Kaua‘i firefighters annually go out during the nationally-seen Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon to help raise funds to battle MDA. During these outings, Kaua‘i firefighters work with the Fill-the-Boot drive to help children and adults throughout Hawai‘i.

Those efforts result in approximately $50,000 being raised each year, the mayoral proclamation states.

Since its founding in 1950, the MDA has become one of the nation’s largest and best-known voluntary health agency, providing comprehensive medical services to tens of thousands of people with neuromuscular diseases at some 240 hospital-affiliated clinics across the country.

The Hawai‘i Chapter of MDA was established in December 1962 with all the county chapters being merged together in January 1981 to form a singular state chapter that is headquartered in Honolulu.

The Hawai‘i Chapter of MDA provide services that help families living in Hawai‘i affected by one of the 43 neuromuscular diseases that come under the MDA umbrella.

Some of these services include the MDA Clinic administered by Castle Medical Center, monthly support groups, summer camp and assistance with equipment purchases and repairs.

In 1954, MDA was established as the International Association of Fire Fighrers “charity of choice,” and marked the beginning of a formal bond between the IAFF and MDA with fire fighters participating in the signature Fill-the-Boot fund-raising activity.