Northern Territory fire fighters are ready, steady and have gone in the inaugural ‘Fill the Boot’ national fire fighter relay to raise funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy.
After months of fundraising, six fire stations across the Territory started the relay this week, passing a boot from station to station covering thousands of kilometres from Yulara to Darwin over nine days.
The aim was to ‘Fill the Boot’ along the way with as much money as possible to help support sufferers of Muscular Dystrophy.
Similar relays are being held across the country with over 200 stations nationally involved in the Fill the Boot relay.
The relay culminates in Sydney on October 19th when the total funds raised will be handed over at a ceremony which will be attended by Katherine based Leading Fire fighter Steve Ditcham.
"Already Katherine Fire Station has raised in excess of $22,000 and we’re hoping that tally will rise as the boot makes its way across the Territory ending in Darwin before being taken to Sydney for the official handover tomorrow.
“It’s an exciting event, a national event, for a really important cause and we’re glad that NT fire fighters have been able to contribute to the event in a strong and unique way," Steve said.
In true Northern Territory style the boot has travelled around the Territory by NTFRS fire truck, and the team at Jabiru Fire station have moved the boot by helicopter and road train with a group of Jabiru auxiliary and volunteer fire fighters cycling the boot into Humpty Doo.
Jabiru Station Officer Steve Anderson commented that “the Jabiru public have been typically fantastic in their support of the campaign and I am proud that our volunteers and auxiliaries have travelled with the boot on perhaps the most interesting route in Australia.
The relay supports The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. Muscular dystrophy is a degenerative neuro-muscular disease that affects mostly young boys, diagnosed around the age of three with a life expectancy of less than 20 years.
The disease impacts around 20,000 Aussie kids.
Katherine Brigade Leading Fireman Steve Ditcham explains local support has been motivated by the story of three year old Katherine resident Felicity Brown who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.
"We were approached to participate in the Fill the Boot relay at around the same time we heard about Felicity so there was no question that we would get involved,” Steve said.
“The money we have raised will help Felicity and her family as well as go towards crucial research to find a cure for the disease."
To support the Northern Territory ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign visit http://www.filltheboot.com.au
For more information contact:
Representing the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service:
Ben Schmidt - Ph: 0402 006 627 or Steve Ditcham - Ph: 0412 587 293
Representing the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation:
Jaqui Cameron: Ph: 0488 228 670 or Jane Sealy: Ph: 0410 602061
To date the fire stations have raised in excess of $30,000 for the foundation.
- Yulara Fire Station: $750
- Alice Springs Fire Station: $600
- Tennant Creek Fire Station: $2,500
- Katherine Fire Station: $22,000 (not a typo)
- Jabiru Fire Station: $ 3,987.10
- Darwin Fire Station: $1,000
