Nothing says people helping people like boots on the ground.
During Labor Day weekend, Fulton firefighters positioned themselves around town, accompanied by Fulton High School Student Council members, collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Their hope: Finding cures for people suffering from 40 diseases, including ALS, that fall under the MDA's umbrella.
Last year, the effort raised $3,100, according to Jon Durney, fundraising coordinator for MDA in Central Missouri and Overland Park, Kansas.
But this year, students and firefighters raised $4,510 during the recent "Fill the Boot" campaign.
"They put their minds to it and went crazy," Durney said.
Students joined members of Fulton Professional Firefighters Local 2945 on Wednesday evening for pizza, soda and a check presentation, along with Durney and Hannah Ballew, 18, an MDA Ambassador and student at Battle High School. She raised $530 at this year's MDA Muscle Walk, in September in Columbia.
"You get a vibe," she said of meeting fellow students through her role as ambassador. "You make so many friendships, too."
Scott Peterson, firefighter and organizer of the local Boot Drive, thanked the students for their help raising money.
"Without you guys (students) standing out there with those guys (firefighters), we couldn't have done it," he said.
Durney said donations go to help patients with equipment needs. Money also supports MDA Summer Camp activities and provides funds for research.
"Research is very important," he said. "There are now three different clinical trials underway for three diseases. It costs about $100 a minute to do research."
To learn more information, visit mda.org or contact Durney at [email protected].