Tulsa Firefighters Raising Money To Fight Muscular Dystrophy

Tulsa Firefighters are raising money through Fill The Boot to help local families dealing with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. The money donated to the campaign goes directly to helping people in Oklahoma with medications, research, and doctors. 

“So we can help out these kids who are down on their luck and help provide research and development for new medications. There is a summer camp program for kids that have muscular dystrophy that’s put on by the money that’s raised by firefighters throughout the nation," said Captain Gary Stika. 

Tulsa firefighters have been filling the boot for more than 50 years to help raise money for local families. “In the last five years, we’ve had 14 new drugs approved by the FDA. Which is more than in the last five decades. So things are really snowballing and taking off and medications are being approved that are really changing the lives of our families," Becky Prine said.

Becky Prine with Muscular Dystrophy Association said the donations help pay for a summer camp for kids with muscular dystrophy. The money also provides medication for patients, and funds the clinic for families dealing with ALS, muscular dystrophy, and other neuromuscular diseases. 

Prine said they're helping 3,000 families in Oklahoma. “I know who are taking these new medications that are approved and they were completely confined to wheelchairs and now that they’ve been taking these new meds their progression has stopped. They’re out of their wheelchairs," Prine said.

Locations: 

1. District 1: 15th & Lewis – corner of the Reasor’s parking lot at the intersection
2. District 2: 21st & Yale – parking lot east of Yale, next to McAlister’s
3. District 3: Tulsa Hills – Sam’s parking lot
4. District 4: Pine & Peoria – parking lot, next to Sonic
5. District 5: 91st & Memorial – parking lot on 91st, between McAlister’s and Old Time Pottery