Off-duty Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighters will take to the streets in the next couple weeks to once again Fill the Boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

Tualatin Valley Firefighters Union Local 1660 members will ask passing motorists to drop a donation into their fire boots at four locations in TVF&R’s service area:

• Monday, May 21, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and Highway 217 intersection in Beaverton.

• Tuesday, May 22, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Wilsonville Road and Boones Ferry Road in Wilsonville.

• Friday, June 1, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. along First Street between North Meridian and River streets in downtown Newberg.

• Saturday, June 2, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Bridgeport Road and Lower Boones Ferry Road in Tigard. Tables will also be set up in Bridgeport Village and at both the REI Tualatin store and Whole Foods Market Bridgeport.

All funds collected through Tualatin Valley Firefighters Union Local 1660’s 2018 Fill the Boot events support MDA’s life-enhancing programs, including support groups and clinics, and assist families with medical equipment and costs. They also make MDA summer camp possible so kids with muscle diseases can enjoy a week of fun activities while gaining confidence and independence. MDA serves more than 1,800 families across the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington with over 150 families in the TVF&R service area that are affected by muscular dystrophy.

For the past 64 years, firefighters have fueled MDA’s mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases, said Amanda Borror, fundraising coordinator for MDA’s Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter. Muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other related diseases take away people’s ability to walk, move, smile, talk, and even breathe.

To date, the International Association of Fire Fighters has raised nearly $275 million for MDA. TVF&R firefighters have raised nearly $740,000 since 2005 for the cause due to the generous support of the community.

Local firefighters invite the community to join them in filling the boot for the MDA. Cash and checks made payable to MDA will be accepted at the four collection events in Beaverton, Wilsonville, Newberg and Tigard. Secure online donations can also be made by clicking on the link below.