In four hours of work, Barrington Firefighters collected nearly $4,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The "Fill the Boot" campaign was held on Saturday, Sept. 8. Members of the Barrington Firefighters Local 1774 collected donations from passersby near the intersection of the Barrington Shopping Center entrance and County Road. 

"The Barrington Firefighters Local 1774 would like to extend their gratitude to everyone who drove down County Road on Sept. 8 and donated to the annual MDA 'Fill the Boot' fundraiser, especially to the little guy that donated all of his money from the tooth fairy," wrote Barrington Firefighter Ryan Cardoso.

"With the help of everyone, the firefighters were able to raise $3,824 in 4 hours for this worthy cause. All of the firefighters that were out filling the boot on the eighth were all off-duty firefighters volunteering their time the way they do year after year for this fund-raiser."

In an even greater gesture, members of the Barrington Firefighters Local 1774 added their own money to round up the donation to an even $4,000. A check presentation event was held at the Barrington Public Safety Building on Sept. 21. 

MDA officials shared a message with the local firefighters following their fund-raiser:

"Because of your support, three new drugs for neuromuscular diseases have been recently approved, and more are expected in the next five years than in the past five decades. These treatments are life-changing for MDA families where walking, talking and even breathing can be difficult. This could not have been done without IAFF fire fighters.

"We’re proud to have the IAFF as our largest national partner and are thankful for the thousands of firefighters who have participated in Fill the Boot drives across America, as well as those who have volunteered countless hours at MDA Summer Camps. And until a cure is found, we’ll be filling those boots together."