Ogunquit News
Ogunquit Firefighters "fill the boot" with $2,000 for the MDA
By C. Ayn Douglass
The Ogunquit Fire Department raised more than $2,000 on Saturday, July 8, the first time local firefighters participated in the MDA's Fill the Boot campaign. Pictured are Ogunquit Firefighters Marc Cuthbertson, Scott Bourque and Chris Brassard, who were on hand to gather loose change and large bills to support the cause while fellow Firefighter Shannon Bridges caught up with a trolley full of potential donors.
Photos by C. Ayn Douglass
Firefighters were on Cottage Street in front of the fire station and on Shore Road with their boots so supporters could give their dollars and cents to help support the MDA.
Last year during the Fill the Boot campaign, firefighters throughout Maine raised more than $73,000 for children and adults battling neuromuscular diseases right here in Maine.
Career Firefighter Shannon Bridges was approached in February by MDA to organize the event in Ogunquit.
"This is the first time we've participated," Bridges said. "MDA was reaching out to departments that hadn't done it in the past. We hadn't heard about it before, but this has been great. We received 100 percent support from the selectmen and the town manager and it all the money goes toward this cause."
Bridges said they couldn't have picked a better weekend.
The weather cooperated with clear, bright skies and temperatures in the 80s.
With the Shore Road traffic - both pedestrians and vehicles - the firefighters collected a little over $2,000 for the MDA in four boots.
Firefighter Chris Brassard said he was surprised at the number of bills in large denominations.
"We've collected 10s and 20s as well as loose change," he said.
MDA is holding 20 events in the next 10 weeks and Bridges said they are eager to participate in another boot drive in August.
