Filling the Boot

Today was the annual Fill the Boot fundraiser for the MDA. Actually depending where you are in the country it's different days over the weekend. Our local fire department did theirs today and invited us to be a part of the fun! Butterfly was thrilled to do her part holding the big boot and helping gather donations for Muscular Dystrophy. I had to laugh as when she was interviewed by our local TV station they asked her a bunch of questions then she paused and while still on the air said, "now I have a question for you... why exactly are we here?" Yep, nice. We've only had this discussion for weeks and participated for two years now! We also did a newspaper interview on the same subject this week. My, my, my.... sometimes that child baffles me. She really does have a future in sales though. So many people tried to leave the grocery (we did this outside our local grocery store) and not make eye contact. I know this trick as I use it quite often when people are trying to either sell me something or collect money that I'm not planning to give. Anyhow, they'd quickly walk by and avert their eyes and she'd call out from her wheelchair, "excuse me! Please fill my boot! The money goes right in here!" I'll admit, several people who clearly were not going to stop too a minute and dug their spare change out of their pockets and dumped it in. She's a braver soul than I, that's for sure. I did have to tone her down a bit though since she was relentless when people kept walking by. She got her rhythm though and without being obnoxious people seemed to respond to her.



We are so blessed to have a group of firefighters who've taken my little Butterfly under their wings and helped to keep her flying. They are are always there for her with an encouraging word or a visit. Just a nice group of guys. It's so good for her too with her limited contact with people. As far as the MDA and helping them with this project, we do so mostly because technically she is qualifies for services through MDA (camps, clinics) since she has a neuromuscular disease that is under their umbrella, but we don't currently utilize their services, but the research and opportunities they've provided so many kids is worth it regardless. I also think putting faces to diagnosis help people to see that we are talking about people and/or children, not a bunch of letters and medical diagnosis you can put in a neat little box.