CES fills the boot for muscular distrophy

If you're driving through the Y in Soldotna today and Saturday, don't forget to drop a few coins or a dollar bill into the firemen's boot as you pass. Firefighters for Central Emergency Services (CES) are hoping to out-do last year's fundraiser by collecting more than $18,000 from passers-by to fight muscular distrophy.

Gary Hale, fire marshal for CES, said fire trucks will be parked at the Y with lights blazing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday. Firefighters will patrol the sidewalks with boots out collecting cash and checks.

"My troops last year outdid themselves," Hale said. "We were looking for $16,500 and they raised $18,000. The community is outstanding in their contributions."

Since CES started participating in the Muscular Distrophy Associaton's Fill the Boot program in 1995, the fire department has raised almost $158,000. Hale compared Soldotna's efforts to Anchorage's and said coming up with $18,000 in 12 hours isn't shabby.

"What they're doing in Anchorage (is) four intersections in four hours and their goal is to raise $100,000," he said. "I think we do an outstanding job as far as contributing to (the MDA)."