Abby Riley

Wildfires continue to affect communities across Canada, and our hearts are with everyone impacted. If you're in an area experiencing wildfire smoke or poor air quality, please take care of yourself and follow guidance from your local public health authority. These conditions can affect anyone, so please take the precautions that are right for you. Please remember that you are not alone. If you or your family need support, we're here to help. Reach out to your Muscular Dystrophy Canada Service Specialist if there's anything we can do - muscle.ca/support-services/h… We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Fire Fighters and emergency personnel working tirelessly to protect communities across the country. Thank you for your courage, dedication, and service. We're thinking of you and hoping you stay safe.

A huge thank you to the Gagetown Fire Fighters, NB, for hosting their annual Boot Drive earlier this July and raising an incredible $1,829 in support of Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders. Gagetown Fire Fighters have been proudly supporting Muscular Dystrophy Canada since 2001, and have raised over $12,000 to date. We’re so grateful for your continued dedication and community spirit. Want to support Fire Fighters in your community? Visit filltheboot.ca today!

Each year, our Fire Fighter partners raise more than $2 million to break down barriers for the Canadian neuromuscular community. Thanks to their dedication and commitment, last year Muscular Dystrophy Canada invested more than $1.2 million into expanding research for all neuromuscular disorders, by funding clinical and translational research projects, 3 clinical fellows and 2 post-doctoral research fellows. Pretty great, right? If you’re a Fire Fighter, don’t miss your chance to get involved and help break down barriers today! Organize a fundraiser before March 31, 2025, for your chance to win a national or provincial title. Don’t wait! Register today by contacting Jennifer Williams at Jennifer.Williams@muscle.ca. #FF70YearsChallenge #FilltheBoot

That’s a wrap on the 2024 Walk & Roll for Muscular Dystrophy Canada season! Thank you to all the participants, donors, and sponsors who made this year’s events a success! Thanks to your generous support, we raised $1,062,644 (and counting!) in support of breaking down barriers for the neuromuscular community! The Walk & Roll website will remain open until December 31, 2024 to accept any last-minute donations - muscle.ca/walkandroll/ Thank you so much for making a difference this season!

The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner—and so is the sale of our Holiday Ornament - back for its final year! 2024 marks the end of Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s holiday ornament campaign after 30 years, and in honour of this amazing run, we are launching the Muscular Dystrophy Canada Puzzle Piece ornament. Spread some holiday cheer while also breaking down barriers for Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders by completing your collection with 2024’s holiday ornament or by stocking up on all previous year’s ornaments, available for $7 each! Don’t wait! Quantities are extremely limited. Purchase an ornament to help support the neuromuscular community today! Get yours before they sell out: muscle.akaraisin.com/ui/hoc2…

September is Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month, and while significant research progress has been made, there are still many unknowns. Muscular Dystrophy Canada is proud to support Dr. Reshma Amin, Dr. Lena Xiao, and their team on the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting project, which aims to identify the most critical research questions related to lung health for individuals with neuromuscular conditions. Help us in identifying the top ten unanswered research questions related to neuromuscular conditions and respiratory/lung health! If you or a family member are affected by a neuromuscular condition, please complete the survey redcap.link/Top10NMD #MuscularDystrophyAwarenessMonth #MuscularDystrophyResearch

This week, Fire Fighters are hosting boot drives to raise critical funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Come #FillTheBoot in your area, and help our Fire Fighter partners make a difference for Canadians affected by #NeuromuscularDisorders. filltheboot.ca

This weekend and in the weeks to come, Fire Fighters across Canada will be hosting boot drives and camping on rooftops to raise critical funds and awareness for MDC. If you are in or around any of the locations mentioned, stop by, and help your local Fire Fighters #FillTheBoot.

On March 30, Fire Fighters in #Ontario and #Alberta will be hosting boot drives to raise critical funds and awareness for Canadians affected by NMDs. If you are around any of the locations mentioned, stop by, say hello and help your local Fire Fighters #FillTheBoot.

If you were planning to attend a Walk and Roll event this weekend, we have a number of postponements due to the wildfires that you need to know about. Visit walkrollmdc.ca

Due to the wildfire situation in Nova Scotia, Muscular Dystrophy Canada has decided to postpone the Halifax Walk and Roll that was scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 10. For more information, visit - muscle.akaraisin.com/ui/Walk… #WalkRollMDC