A booty of cash for MDA

Stefani Martin, district director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, said the Kilgore firefighters will be "Filling Their Boots" to benefit MDA. The firefighters will be at Brookshire's and WalMart on May 6, 13 and 20 collecting money for MDA.

Last year Kilgore Firefighters raised over $4,300 with their efforts and firefighters are the largest national sponsor of MDA. In 2005 firefighters in East Texas raised over $75,000 for patients with neuromuscular diseases, Martin said.

Martin said Fill The Boot allows MDA to continue the search in the causes and cures for 43 neuromuscular diseases which affect 450 families in East Texas. She said the moneys raised will provide support group clinic at UT health Center, diagnostic

testing, wheelchairs and leg braces, summer camp for children ages six through 21 and ongoing worldwide research. MDA is not funded by grants and does not seek payment from the patients the organization serves