The Romeoville Fire Department just completed their second annual “Fill the Boot” week for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and “Jerry’s Kids.”
    There are over forty kinds of muscular dystrophy, and all of them are still lacking a cure. The “Jerry’s Kids” Foundation is a charity linked directly to the MDA and the money they raise goes to families affected by the disease and research to find a cure.
    Following a successful drive last summer, the RFD took off their boots again to benefit local families and the MDA. The firefighters were seen shoeless at the intersections of 135th Street and Weber Road as well as 135th Street and Route 53 from August 26-28. Last year, they raised over $15,000 for the charity and Michael Charniak from RFD’s Fire Station Three said they “upped the ante” this year in hopes of reaching a new goal.
    “This event gives us the opportunity to let our MDA families know that we are out here fighting for them. The campaign also gives us the opportunity to interact with the public since, let’s face it, if it wasn’t for the unselfish support of our community we wouldn’t be able to do as much as we do,” said Charniak.
    On the first day alone, they raised over $4,000. By the end of the drive, over $11,000 was raised thanks to the support of the community and the hard work of Romeoville’s firefighters.
    “I would like to take this opportunity to truly thank our community from the bottom of my heart. Without their generosity and the efforts of everyone that participated in the Boot Drive, none of this would be possible,” said Charniak.
    The next venture for the Romeoville Fire Department is a celebration of their 50th anniversary here in Romeoville.