Town's firefighters kick off boot drive to support fight against muscular dystrophy

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“Caring firefighters.”

That’s just one tag several people gave to the Johnston firefighters who have again set out on another important fundraising mission.

Last weekend, in fact, the Johnston Fire Department held the first of back-to-back weekends as part of its effort to support the International Association of Firefighters’ (IAAF) ongoing effort to stamp out muscular dystrophy, as members of Local 1950 began their annual boot drive in hopes of another record-setting collection.

“We’d really like to fill each and every boot,” Jonathan V. “Jon” Pistacchio, vice president of Local 1950, offered after last weekend’s kick-off. “We’ll be collecting this weekend as well.”

However, as Pistacchio noted, “our drive actually began a few months ago with the first donation of $1,000.”

That total came from a highly successful raffle that members of Local 1950 held for a 2014 Harley Davidson Motorcycle. When the winning ticket was drawn, treasurer Dave Pingitore announced the union would donate the first $1,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

“Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 [for the association],” Pistacchio said. “This is an important nationwide effort that’s been going on for years. We’d also like to thank – in advance – everyone who travels in Johnston while we’re out collecting all the people for their patience and generosity.”

IAAF is the largest national sponsor of the MDA, and its members in the United States and Canada are dedicated to saving lives both as firefighters and paramedics and as the strongest campaigners for the worldwide research effort to eradiate neuromuscular diseases.

“The contributions of firefighters also go toward MDA’s summer camps for children, professional and public health education and other programs,” Pistacchio said. “This year marks a 60-year relationship between the IAFF and MDA.”

While Local 1950 hasn’t been around for 60 years, members are proud of the fact that 77 cents from every dollar raised goes directly to research, services and education.

MDA is the world’s leading non-profit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases.

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