Prince George firefighters have taken their muscular dystrophy fundraising efforts to a whole new level - about 30 feet off the ground - during the second annual Rooftop Campout held at Canadian Tire from Friday to Sunday.
It starts with opening ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. Friday where Premier Christy Clark, MLA Shirley Bond, a representative from the Mayor's office, Fire Chief John Lane, and Susan Andrist, who has muscular dystrophy, will say a few words about the six firefighters who are volunteering for the 48-hour event.
Ian Provan will act as ground crew while Shane Lapierre, Wayne Weis, Clay Sheen, Mike Stachoski and Jeremy Kostyshyn take a ride on the Ladder 21 truck to the roof of the Canadian Tire store. The event is to raise awareness and funds for those affected by the more than 100 neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles that control body movement, which are covered under the muscular dystrophy umbrella.
"Don't take it for granted when it's easy for you to pull up a zipper, do up a button, hold a pen. All those little things are impossible for me now," said Andrist, who was born with a form of muscular dystrophy called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT). "At times, it's an emotional roller coaster. It's a loss of mobility a little at a time. Doing the simplest things are now a real challenge. Preparing a meal, for example, I can't cut the vegetables, I use pliers to open zip-lock bags, I can't open the sugar package to put in my coffee. And, of course, the big thing is my ability to walk is getting more and more difficult. It feels like I'm mourning the loss of my mobility."
As time goes on, Andrist's condition worsens and she is so grateful to the firefighters for all their support, she said.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially for standing by me through all my struggles and for being there when I need them," said Andrist, who is one of 50,000 Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders. "It takes one muscle to make a difference - your heart. "
Since 1954, $64 million has gone toward research to study causes, treatment and a cure for muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular disorders, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Canada website.
The money raised by local firefighters, participating in this national fundraising effort, goes to improving the quality of life for those affected by muscular dystrophy by purchasing mobility equipment, providing support services and funding research, which will one day lead to a cure.
"To be able to work with the firefighters on something like this, not only are we excited but we are honoured and privileged to be a little part of this," said Selen Alpay, owner of the Prince George Canadian Tire. Donations will be accepted at the in-store cash registers during the rooftop campout. "These guys put their lives on the line for us every single day and then these select few go up on a roof for 48 hours to raise funds for a horrible, horrible disease that affects a lot of people. All I can do is applaud them. If they choose to do this fundraiser next year, I promise I will be up there with them for the whole 48 hours."
Each year, a few of the Prince George firefighters attend the Muscular Dystrophy Canada conference, and last year the locals took top honours when it came to fundraising and public relations.
"We've been lucky enough to attend the conferences down in Vancouver and you get to hear the stories and meet the people that are affected by this disorder who bravely face every day with a positive attitude and it really makes it easy to do these fundraisers to try to help out," said Lapierre.
To donate to the cause, visit the firefighters at Canadian Tire, or online at www.muscle.ca/campout.
