With the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship’s annual parade of boats taking place tomorrow at 5 p.m., the Fort Frances Fire Brigade once again will be holding its “boot drive” for Muscular Dystrophy.
Parade-goers can expect to see a mix of full-time and volunteer firefighters leading the way with boots in hand, along with a rescue truck and their own boat float, firefighter Wayne Riches said this morning.
“Just throw your change in the boot,” he noted.
“We’re looking for the community’s support,” he added. “They’ve been a great supporter in the past, and we’re hoping they’ll be just as generous this year as they have been.”
The fire brigade first did the boot drive in conjunction with the FFCBC’s boat parade in 2002—and has been doing it ever since.
“It’s been a huge success,” Riches said. “The first year, I think we raised $500, and then last year we were up to $2,000. Maybe we can get up to the $2,500 mark this year.
“Every year gets a little better, and I think the community almost expects us out there now,” he added.
And thanks to their sponsors, the fire brigade once again will be able to hand out balloons, stickers, candy, and Freezies along the way, noted Riches.
The parade, which usually sees thousands of people line the route to cheer on the FFCBC anglers, once again will run from the old CN station to the big tent at the Sorting Gap Marina.
It will proceed down Central Avenue, turn east onto First Street East, turn south onto Mowat Avenue, and then east onto Scott Street.
The parade then will turn south onto Victoria Avenue and then east on Front Street.
Muscular Dystrophy is the chosen charity of fire departments around the world. Last year, Ontario firefighters alone raised more than $1 million for MD.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
