The sixth annual camp out by Airdrie Firefighters to raise money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada was a success and saw much public support.

Damon Johnson, a firefighter with Airdrie Fire Department and a member of the Airdrie Professional Firefighter Association, says that the campout went well.

"The campout was very good this year. The guys had some weather they had to deal with; they had a little bit of a blizzard there on Wednesday evening where it was white out conditions. We had a very successful turn out over the course of the 72 hours that they were on the roof and we had lots of events (as well)."

Johnson says they managed to collect a fair amount of money.

"Our total that we have so far is $17,201."

Despite the harsh Alberta weather, Johnson says the firefighters were able to keep a good outlook.

"They had to have lots of layers on. They did of course have some cold weather, then it warmed up, then it got cold, and then it warmed. So, their layers were coming on and off a little bit there in regard to some of the thermal layers they had on underneath the fire gear that they were wearing. They seemed to handle it pretty (well)."

"Talking to the guys who were up there, they sound like they had a blast. They were definitely ready to come down after their 72 hours, but they had a lot of fun interacting with members of the public and the staff at the Toad and Turtle and everybody else who came by to say hi, drop some money in the boot, whether they were coming for the silent auction they were having on Saturday evening. They seemed to have the time of their life."

Johnson says the camp out is always something the firefighters are looking forward to.

"Muscular dystrophy has always been close to the firefighters for a long, long time. We've always raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Canada whether it be through the boot drives that we do (or) the carwashes. (This has been) the sixth year that we've done the rooftop. With the total that we have raised so far, just with the Airdrie firefighters, we're just over $98,000 that we've raised in six years and all that money goes towards creating awareness, getting equipment for people who need it, and it also goes toward research and trying to find a cure."

 

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