Lakeland Firefighters To Pass Boot At Detroit Tigers Game

LAKELAND, FL -- The Lakeland Professional Firefighters will be on hand March 24 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium to pass the boot during the spring training game of the Detroit Tigers.

On behalf of the International Association of Firefighters Local Chapter 4173, Lakeland firefighters will collect funds to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association

The game starts at 1:05 p.m. and the firefighters will be outside Joker Marchant Stadium before, during and after the game with empty boots that need filling as part of the IAFF's signature "Fill the Boot" campaign to benefit MDA.

Local 4173 has been filling the boot through its partnership with the Detroit Tigers since 2011.

"We really value our relationship with the Detroit Tigers and their support of our work in the Lakeland community, said firefighter/paramedic Margaret Orozco, MDA coordinator for the union. “We especially appreciate the opportunity to fundraise at the baseball games because every dollar raised by our group goes directly back to families in Lakeland affected by muscular dystrophy.”

The union also will host a family impacted by muscular dystrophy at the game.

"These fundraisers and the thousands of dollars raised by Lakeland's firefighters are just another great example of how much the men and women of LFD do for their communities and how much they do at and away from work to help others,” LFD spokeswoman Janel Vasallo said.

Image via Local 4173