Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009
Firefighters MDA Fundraiser Extends to July 3
By Nicholas Sakelaris
Staff Writer
Blistering heat didn’t stop Southlake firefighters from collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this month.
Firefighters braved the heat and humidity to fill their boots at Southlake’s busiest intersections, as they have for several years. This year was different because the city sponsored the firefighters, allowing them to collect a record amount of donations in uniform and while on duty.
"We can raise so much more money doing it on duty," said Ron Testerman, a 22-year veteran of Southlake’s fire department. "It’s great that the city is sponsoring such a fabulous cause."
In previous years, the money was raised through the Southlake Firefighters Association with the firefighters working on their own time, Testerman said.
Fire Chief Mike Starr said he approached city administrators this year to propose the change, and they agreed. The result is more involvement and more money being raised, he said.
"We have everyone in the department participating," Starr said.
As of Tuesday, Starr said, firefighters have collected $10,603. Starr said that he believed the next best year brought in about $6,000.
As for the heat, the firefighters just deal with it, knowing they’re helping raise money to cure several diseases, Testerman said.
"We just get hot and keep collecting," he laughed.
One driver offered Lt. Cliff Altom a water bottle after giving him a donation.
The firefighters focused mostly on the intersection at Southlake Boulevard and Kimball Avenue and the Chick-fil-A drive-thru.
On June 24 the firefighters split into two groups with one going to White Chapel and Southlake boulevards and another going to Carroll Avenue and Southlake Boulevard.
"We’re trying to move around to give more people an opportunity to contribute to such a good cause," Testerman said.
The firefighters will be out one more time at the Stars & Stripes fireworks celebration Friday at Southlake Town Square.
"We’re planning to do real well there," Testerman said.
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