Fighting the blazes is not the only way the Greenville Fire

Department works to save lives. In fact, on September 1, fire fighters will take on an added battle of fighting neuromuscular disease when they combine forces with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to &uot;Fill the Boot.&uot;

&uot;We have been working with MDA for several years,&uot; said Greenville Fire Chief Mike Phillips. &uot;It is a very important cause nationwide and fire fighters in Alabama are very supportive.&uot;

Gov. Siegelman also has been very supportive of Alabama firefighters working for MDA, and proclaimed August as MDA Firefighter Appreciation Month.

For over 45 years, firefighters across the country have collected money for MDA. This partnership between the two organizations helps to fund research at MDA clinics, such as the one at The Baptist Medical Center in Montgomery. Funds also help to send kids with muscular dystrophy to MDA summer camps.

Greenville firefighters will be at Wal-Mart and Butler Plaza on Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The firefighters, who have a goal of $3,000 will present the proceeds from their MDA Boot Drives on the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WAKA Channel 8, Sept. 2-3, including over $800 that was raised on Aug. 11.