OLDS — A month-long fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Canada organized by the Olds Fire Department was a success, given COVID-19 restrictions, says Justin Andrew, the department's chief.
The rooftop fundraiser, held throughout the month of May raised $2,000 and the final tally could go higher because more money is expected to trickle in, he said in an email.
The department’s goal had been to raise $10,000.
Andrew indicated that the amount raised was pretty good, given COVID-19 restrictions. Besides, he also noted this was the first year the department held a fundraiser of this sort for the disease.
“All in all, it was a good showing despite the fact that it was difficult to promote with full restrictions in place and scheduled activities cancelled,” he wrote. “Members set a lofty goal, but realize that any support that the community can offer is appreciated by our members and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
“We hope to make it what it was truly meant to be next year.”
The fire department’s original plan had been to have a firefighter camp out on top of the fire hall roof for the month as part of the campaign. But that idea was dropped.
"With COVID we felt it wasn’t the best message to send to the community where many people are facing tough situations isolating,” he wrote in an earlier email.
Instead, a mannequin named Rescue Randy was set up on the fire hall roof, along with a tent for shelter. Randy and the tent were taken off the roof midway through the month when a thunderstorm rolled through.
Muscular Dystrophy is a collection of rare inherited conditions that cause muscles to weaken and break down over time. As a result, victims can lose the ability to walk and may eventually need a wheelchair to get around.
There’s no known cure for the disease, but some treatments can help patients cope with it to some degree.
“Muscular Dystrophy has been a charity near and dear to the Olds firefighters’ hearts as retired chief Leonard Brandson’s wife Margaret was diagnosed with this illness and passed away as a result several years ago,” he wrote.
