This year at the Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival Grand Parade on Sunday, July 4, the Bemidji Fire Department marched with boots in hand and raised $3,351.06 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

This is an annual tradition in Bemidji called the Fill the Boot fundraising campaign. The money is used to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) find urgently needed treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility.

According to a release from the Bemidji Fire Department, funds raised through the 2021 Bemidji Fire Boot event empower families with life-enhancing resources and support many children and their families. It also allows many children and families to partake in the MDA’s summer camp located in Maple Lake, MN.

By — Betsy Melin