Firefighters raise money for muscular dystrophy

Portales firefighter Scott Candeleria holds a boot up to oncoming traffic Thursday afternoon on First Street to raise money and awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the PPD's annual Fill the Boot campaign.

Portales firefighter Floyd Hancock saw a few drivers along U.S. 70 on their cell phones and other drivers look in the other direction Thursday as he stood on First Street holding up a fire boot to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Though some drivers did their best to ignore the Portales firefighters as they drove along U.S. 70, Hancock said they had collected $900 the first two hours of fundraising and appreciates all and any donations for this cause during their Fill the Boot campaign.

"I think it's a great cause," Hancock said. "Honestly every fire department across the country does it."

Muscular dystrophy is a group of heredity diseases characterized by progressive weakening and wasting of muscles.

Though Hancock said he hasn't seen too many children in Roosevelt County with muscular dystrophy, he says the department's goal is to raise money for the MDA to do research.

"We've had a few patients who had it," Hancock said.

Hancock and other firefighters said they were touched by drivers and their giving nature. Hancock said he received money from practically every officer and sheriff who has drove by.

Often times, Hancock recalled picking up money off of the street thrown by drivers in a rush, but however drivers gave, Hancock said it helped.

According to Portales Fire Department Chief Gary Nuckols, he predicts they will raise about anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 this year for MDA. Nuckols said they raised about $5,400 last year.

"We just go out and ask for donations and whatever people give in generosity is what we earn," Nuckols said.

He added that any amount helps and says about $600 to $800 dollars from the money they collect each year comes from change.

He actually predicts to make more money this year, considering they're taking their campaign to the Roosevelt County Fair this weekend.

Portales firefighter Floyd Hancock thanks a driver at the intersection of First Street and Avenue C for donating to the department's annual Fill the Boot campaign. The department is raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Nuckols said it's a tradition for firefighters to raise funds for children with muscular dystrophy and he hopes to involve the community in the fight.

"This is more for the cause," Nuckols said. "This is the only time you'll see firefighters on the street collecting money. We pay every penny of that to the MDA and we don't do this for recognition."

One of the challenges firefighters experience while doing this annual fundraiser in August is the heat of the summer. U.S. 70 road construction has also been a challenge with the highway reduced to one lane.

Mainly, Nuckols said the biggest challenge is that people aren't aware of why they're raising money despite the banner they hang on their fire truck.

"Some people don't know what we're doing out there," Nuckols said. "It's not something we advertise, we just go out there and do the best we can."

Nuckols said if they see success with their campaign during the fair, they may do all of their fundraising at the fair next year.