Special to the Leader & Times

The Liberal Fire Department would like to express its deepest gratitude to all in the community who generously donated to Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) this month.

Between the Labor Day weekend Fill the Boot campaign, and the Duck Festival this last weekend in collaboration with Cuts for a Cause, the LFD able to make raise a total of $6,926.

The money raised stays local to assist those dealing with diseases associated with muscular dystrophy, as well as assisting in the much needed research for these diseases.

"MDA supports people living with more than 300 neuromuscular diseases – diseases that can progressively take away a person’s ability to walk, move, eat, breathe, and live independently,”  MDA representative Chelsea McGraw said. “These are real families in our communities. A diagnosis can completely change a family’s future in a single conversation with a doctor. More than 7,628 people are affected in the state of Kansas alone. Imagine being a parent and being told, ‘There is no cure.’ Then imagine watching your child slowly lose abilities that most of us take for granted. MDA helps families from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their journey – providing care, resources, support, education, advocacy, and connection to specialized medical care. MDA funds research because research creates hope. Treatments that exist today for some neuromuscular diseases were once just ideas in a laboratory. We are fighting to change what a diagnosis means. The goal is a future where families hear ‘Here’s how we can treat this’ instead of ‘There’s nothing we can do.’ MDA helps provide access to specialized care and resources that families may otherwise struggle to find."

The Liberal Fire Department would like to again extend its thanks to the community for the continued support for the department's efforts in raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.