HOPEWELL, Va. – It was a very special day for local teen Kayla Allen, who battles muscular dystrophy.
She’s dedicated her life to spreading awareness of the disease, and raising money to fight it.
On Monday, a group of local firefighters were determined to make sure she had the best 16th birthday.
Kayla arrived at the Hopewell fire station, as the face of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
"As I get older, I get weaker,” said Allen, a goodwill ambassador of the MDA.
For the sixteen-year-old, the reason to be there was simple. Firefighters are the number one fundraiser for MDA.
"I think it's awesome that they're trying to do new things for us and it gives a lot of people hope for a cure for muscular dystrophy,” Kayla said.
This year marks the first time Hopewell firefighters will take part in the three-day "fill the boot" campaign.
“It's about just getting in front of the community and truly being a community-based fire department,” said Capt. Marc Brade with the Hopewell Fire Department.
The MDA and firefighters joined forces more than six decades ago. It’s a partnership that has raised more than $600 million.
"As you could see, the different milestones in terms of significant funds raised by firefighters, right after that, there was almost always some sort of significant research breakthrough."
Virginia is ranked third in the country for money raised by firefighters. And the Central Virginia MDA plays a major role in the lives of many like Kayla.
There are 2,600 families affected by neuro-muscular disease in the local area served by the organization.
"I love camp; it gives us a chance to do things we never get to do at home,” Kayla said.
And for Kayla’s birthday that was a surprise cake, followed by the bigger surprise of a ride on a fire truck.
