Firefighters from East Pierce Fire and Rescue will be collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through the annual “Fill the Boot” campaign beginning today, July 19. Firefighters will be stationed at well-tread commuter intersections in Lake Tapps, Bonney Lake, Sumner and Edgewood on separate days through Aug. 3. Look for the firefighters at various times on:

Friday, July 19 in Lake Tapps at 9th Street East and 182nd Avenue East; Tuesday, July 23 in Bonney Lake at 200th Avenue East and South Prairie Road East;Wednesday, July 24 in Sumner at Valley Avenue and Main Street; andSaturday, August 3 in Edgewood at 24th Street East and Meridian Avenue East.

Firefighters will be at the intersections during morning and evening commute times, as well as other times over the course of each day.

The Fill the Boot campaign, sponsored by East Pierce Professional Firefighters Local 3520, raises money to assist families affected by muscular dystrophy in Sumner, Lake Tapps, Edgewood, Milton, South Prairie and Bonney Lake.

In 2012, firefighters collected contributions totaling $20,000, the largest amount raised to date. Their goal for 2013 is to break their personal record again, raising more than $20,000.

“The great thing is that the money we raise stays local to help people in our area affected by Muscular Dystrophy,” said firefighter Andrew House, who is organizing the event.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency founded in 1950 to fight 43 neuromuscular diseases, including ALS or Lou Gehrigs Disease, which affect millions of Americans. The term muscular dystrophy describes a group of diseases characterized by the degeneration of voluntary muscles. The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors. MDA seeks no government grants, United Way funding or fees from those it serves.