Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Members of the Greater Napanee Fire department will be popping up at events throughout the community this September.
The men and women of Napanee’s fire department have a busy couple of weeks planned, starting with the return of their Labour Day weekend boot drive.
They’ll be at Wal-Mart on Sept. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., asking shoppers to help fill their boot with donations in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) as well as their holiday food basket and toy drive.
Canadian fire departments have long had a partnership with MDC, hosting fundraisers on their behalf for nearly 70 years. Since 1954, nearly $100 million has been raised across Canada by fire fighters who volunteer their time to collect donations through the Fill the Boot campaign.
The following week will be a cause that’s close to the heart of every person who has ever responded to an emergency call-the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. On that day, 343 firefighters lost their lives attempting to save people from the burning World Trade Centre in the heart of New York City.
As they have the last couple of years, members of Greater Napanee Fire will be taking part in a memorial stair climb, held at Napanee’s Planet Fitness. Dressed in full bunker gear, they’ll strive to climb 110 steps on a stair master, symbolically replicating the 110 floors of the World Trade Centre.
“It’s hard to believe, there’s some people that weren’t even born when 9/11 that are on the fire department now,” said Greater Napanee Fire deputy chief Kevin Duncan.
Members of the public can drop by Planet Fitness on Sept. 11 to watch the fire fighters take on the challenge and while they’re there they can make a donation to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation. A special display table will be set up near the entrance of the gym, located at 450 Centre St. N, in the Napanee Mall plaza.
Last but not least, local firefighters will once again be taking part in Napanee’s annual Terry Fox Run, set for Sept. 17. They’ll be doing the 10 km walk in full bunker gear.
“It’s just fun to do. It’s a good challenge,” said Duncan, noting the mid September weather can bring anything from crisp fall air to a blistering late summer day. “Anything we can do as a department to bring awareness to an event, that’s the main reason why we do things.”
To donate to the Terry Fox Run, visit https://run.terryfox.ca/28701.