By Allen Smith
Independence Daily Reporter – September 1, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – September 25, 2013
For just under three decades, the Independence division of the Montgomery County Rural Fire District No. 1, has been helping the Muscular Dystrophy Association fight neuromuscular diseases.
Friday night, just has he has for the past 27 years, longtime volunteer firefighter Harry Barker took his turn at holding a boot at the front entrance of the Independence Walmart Supercenter taking donations for MDA patients.
“I’ve done this for a long time,” Barker said. “It’s something I enjoy doing. It’s a way to help kids with this terrible disease. Hopefully, one of these days a cure can be found for muscular dystrophy.”
The past few years the local firefighters have been stationed at Walmart, a little safer venue than when the project started 27 years ago.
“We used to stand at the intersections at 10th and Main and Penn and Myrtle holding these boots, collect money while people are stopped at the stop lights. It was dangerous, but that was part of the excitement of it.”
“We had more participation in those days,” Barker said. “We had volunteers at each of the four crosswalks, in the middle of the street collecting money for MDA.”
“It was a little dangerous, but you just had to be alert and watch what you were doing,” he said. “However, several years ago we were asked to find other locations, maybe in front of retail outlets to do our project.”
“It is safer, especially now that we have cell phones to deal with,” Barker said. “Too many people drive and talk on cell phones taking their full attention from their driving. Someone could get hit these days a lot easier than in the past.”
Standing at the Walmart entrances work out well.
“We pretty much stand right here, the people come to us as they go in the store. It works out pretty well,” Barker said.
The goal for this year, according to Bill Caflisch, the fire chief of the Independence division, is $1,700.
“That’s the amount we collected last year,” he said. “We hope we can match…maybe collect more.”
In the past, local firefighters have taken the money they collected to Joplin, Mo., and participated in the MDA Labor Day Telethon held at KODE-TV.
Caflisch said Independence is the furthest community west in the Joplin MDA district.
He also indicated the MDA office in Joplin has closed, and the district director works out of her home.
“The KODE telethon has been discontinued, and its been moved to Springfield. We’re not going to Springfield, the money we collect here will be sent to the MDA officials in the form of a check to the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” Caflisch said.
He also noted the money raised in the Joplin district remains in this area in an attempt to assist those with the disease.
Barker said over the years he has seen some touching moments.
“I remember one year a boy who had muscular dystrophy wheeled himself up to me and said he wanted to donate some money to help other kids who suffer from muscular dystrophy,” Barker said.
“He was in an electric wheelchair and said he wanted to help other kids with muscular dystrophy and put his money in my boot, that was touching. Brought tears to my eyes,” he said.
“That’s why we do this…you never know what you’re going to see. Things like that young boy wanting to help others is what this is all about…makes it all worth it,” Barker said.
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