Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Waukegan firefighters welcomed a Boot Buddy to the department’s main fire station [recently] as they got ready to raise money with their annual Fill-the-Boot drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

For more than 50 years firefighters across the country have supported the nonprofit medical research agency, and donated additional money to pay for services and camps. Waukegan has been involved since 2002, and has raised more than $100,000 over that time. Waukegan firefighters hope to raise $6,000 to $7,000 this year.

“Every year the members of the Waukegan Firefighters Union 473 hit the streets trying to fill their iconic black and yellow rubber firefighter boots with donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” firefighter Scott Vandenbroucke said. “A lot of times people think it’s money for the fire department, so we’re hoping to get the word out about who we’re raising money for.”

Zion 24-year-old Ryan Nieves, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 5 years old, was the department’s honorary Boot Buddy on Tuesday. He was joined by his family for a tour of Station 1. Nieves said he was impressed by the amount of equipment inside the trucks.

“The equipment is probably some of the coolest equipment I’ve ever seen,” said Nieves, all smiles while checking out the trucks. “It’s awesome … The ladder truck is pretty impressive. To see it in action, it was amazing.”

Nieves, who was the MDA ambassador for the State of Illinois in 1998, said life would be much harder without the MDA. “Without a doubt, I don’t think I would have had as good of an experience in life,” he said, explaining that he attended the organization’s camps in Bloomington until he graduated at 18.

thanks Dan

Tags: boot drive, fill the boot, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Ryan Nieves, Waukegan Fire Department, Waukegan Firefighters Union 473