Local Firefighters and Public Safety personnel help battle muscular dystrophy.

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
January 8, 2019 11:00 a.m.

Thanks to December efforts of city and county firefighters and public safety personnel, $18,400 was presented in the form of two checks to the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the January 2, 2019 Regular Meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission.

Representatives of the Fernandina Beach Fire Department and IAFF Local 2836 were on hand to make the presentation to Muscular Dystrophy Association representative Jasmyne Ellison-Stanley.

Jasmyne Ellison-Stanley accepts $12,285 check representing donations collected by local firefighters during the annual Fill the Boot Campaign in December.

In presenting the first check in the amount of $12,285, Fernandina Beach Fire Department Captain Brad Richardson read a prepared statement citing the long relationship and commitment of firefighters around the nation to supporting research, education and treatment to cure muscular dystrophy with the “Fill the Boot Campaign.”  The first campaign in Massachusetts in 1954 raised $5,000.  The Fernandina Beach Fire Department has raised almost $108,000 since 2015.

The 4th Annual Guns and Hoses Tournament raised an additional $6,115 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Firefighter/EMT Ben Miller of the Fernandina Beach Fire Department presented a second check to Ellison-Stanley in the amount of $6,115 collected during the 4thAnnual Guns and Hoses Softball Tournament, during which city and county public safety and rescue teams competed for the coveted trophy.  This year, Fernandina Beach firefighters were able to wrest that trophy from their county peers.  Team captains voted this year to designate the Muscular Dystrophy Association as the recipient for donations collected for the tournament.

In accepting the checks, Ellison-Stanley tearfully thanked all who contributed and participated. She cited local families who would be helped via these donations.