Article Text

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue raised $203,053.52 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during its 2025 Fill the Boot campaign over Labor Day weekend, making Fairfax County the top-collecting municipality in the United States and Canada for another year.

The money will support research, treatments, medications and therapies addressing more than 300 neuromuscular diseases served by MDA. Donations also help fund MDA Care Centers, where patients can see specialists including pulmonologists, cardiologists, orthopedists, occupational therapists and neurologists in one location.

Funds will also benefit MDA Summer Camps, which offer children with neuromuscular diseases accessible activities and opportunities to spend time with peers facing similar challenges.

Penn Daw’s Fire Station 11 collected the highest overall station total at $11,429.47. Fire Station 40 in Fairfax Center followed with $10,984.45, while Reston’s Fire Station 25 raised $9,335.29.

Penn Daw’s B-Shift also posted the largest single-day station-and-shift total, collecting $8,241.47. Franconia Fire Station 5’s B-Shift raised $5,583.64, and North Point Fire Station 39’s A-Shift collected $4,756.60.

On a per-person basis for one day, Franconia’s B-Shift led with $930.61 per participant. North Point’s A-Shift collected $679.51 per person, followed by Penn Daw’s B-Shift at $515.09 per person.

The campaign involved active and retired personnel, sworn and civilian employees, career and volunteer members, and their families. Support also came from the Fairfax County Police Department, Department of Public Safety Communications, Department of Vehicle Services and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Retirement Association, along with residents, businesses and visitors who donated.