By Thomas Garcia: Freedom New Mexico
More than $41,000 was raised in August in eastern New Mexico to aid in the research for muscular dystrophy, according to officials.
The funds were being raised in conjunction with the 43rd annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
The Portales Fire department raised more than $9,000 through a Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Fill the Boot Program in which firefighters collect donations at intersections, according to Portales Fire Chief John Bridges. The department’s fundraising goal was $5,000.
“We are extremely thankful to the residents of Roosevelt County and Portales,” Bridges said. “It is because of their tremendous support that we were able to raise twice as much money for Muscular Dystrophy research.”
The Clovis Fire Department’s Fill the Boot program raised $7,600, which was $10,000 less then it took in last year, according to Lt. Mike Jouett of the CFD.
“I was disappointed with the donations the department took in this year,” Jouett said. He said there was not the same amount of effort that had been applied to program as in the past.
Earlier in the month the Cotton Patch restaurant in Clovis held a fundraising event that raised $21,742, said Amarillo MDA program coordinator Amber Sturgess.
Roosevelt and Curry counties are part of the MDA’s chapter in Amarillo, which provide services for residents in West Texas, eastern New Mexico and parts of Oklahoma, Sturgess said.
Sturgess said funds raised primarily fund research for muscular dystrophy, but are also used to send area children with muscular dystrophy to the week long summer camp in Cedar Canyon, Texas, Sturgess said.
The camp is held in June and provides children with the disease a chance to participate in activities that they normally could not do, Sturgess said.
The Amarillo chapter raised $351,927, Sturgess said.
• Curry and Roosevelt County MDA donations: $41,241
• Clovis Fire Department: $7,600
• Lowe’s: $1,299
• Cotton Patch restaurant: $21,742
• Cannon Air Force Base: $1,500
• Portales Fire Department: $9,100
Source: Amber Sturgess, MDA Amarillo chapter
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