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Firefighters from the Onalaska Fire Department hope to raise $4,169 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during a Fill the Boot collection from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, and Monday, Sept. 1, at Festival Foods in Onalaska.

That might seem like a random number of dollars to raise, but it’s actually the union local number for the full-time OFD fire firefighters in the International Association of Fire Fighters.

The MDA Fill the Boot tradition goes back to 1952, when a desperate father sought help from a South Boston fire station and 20 firefighters went door to door and collected $5,000. Since officially adopting the MDA as the union’s charity of choice in 1954, the IAFF has emerged as the single largest sponsor of the MDA, contributing nearly $300 million.

Although the OFD firefighters have been IAFF union members for eight or nine years, this is the first year for the firefighters taking part in the Fill the Boot campaign.

The OFD firefighters are collecting in honor of Maya Owens, a girl from Holmen who has muscular dystrophy and plans to attend the fundraiser at Festival Foods.

MDA helps children and adults who are affected by any of 40 neuromuscular diseases covered by MDA’s comprehensive medical services and research programs. MDA recieves no government funding and charges no fees to those served by the association.

Jeremy Southworth of the Onalaska Fire Department noted that approximately 80 percent of every dollar raised for MDA is spent on services.

Southworth offered some examples of what donors’ money will buy:

$30: Flu shot

$85: One minute of research

$100: One support group session

$150: One physical, occupational, respiratory or speech therapy consultation

$200: Professional fees related to initial diagnostic work-up at an MDA clinic

$500: Assists one person for one year with the repair of a wheelchair, leg braces or communication device

$800: Sends one child to MDA summer camp

$2,000: Assists one person with the purchase of a wheelchair, leg braces or communication device.

The Onalaska firefighters will have a table outside Festival Foods as well as a spot on the west side of the Festival parking lot where people can drive up to drop off donations. Donations also can be dropped off at the Onalaska fire station.

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