The Coast’s second “Mayday for Muscular Dystrophy” saw teams of local firefighters walk sections of Highway 101 between Earls Cove to Langdale on Oct. 2 with a goal of raising $10,000.
In a Oct. 4 interview with Coast Reporter, event organizer Steven Achterberg, of the Sechelt Fire Department said preliminary results show the local departments are very close reaching the targeted amount and that he considered the event a success. “In my experience, more continues to trickle in after an event is over and more is always better,” he stated.
Donations are still being accepted online at filltheboot.ca. Doners can select on the site which of the Coast’s departments efforts they would like to support or make a general donation to the cause
He estimated 25 to 30 local firefighters took part in the walk that covered about 80 km, with walkers starting at each end of the Coast and walking towards Halfmoon Bay. Most were wearing 30 pounds of turnout gear and air packs during their treks. Those walkers are support by pilot and chase vehicle drivers.
Rasing funds and morale
“The departments really enjoy the collaboration, all of us working together towards a common goal. It’s a really fun event for all departments to take part in. We all do the same job but just never see each other on a day-to-day basis. So it is really good to get out and walk side by side. I almost want to do it just for that reason, but raising money for charity is a really good side-effect," said Achterberg.
This year, Egmont Volunteer Fire Department’s deputy chief Elisha Moussadji was one of those who walked about 20 km from Egmont to Garden Bay Road. Others from that department and the Pender Harbour department carried on complete the 44 km section of the event between Egmont and Halfmoon Bay. At the Halfmoon Bay firehall, those walkers met up with those who covered the event's southern legs for a celebratory get-together.
During last year’s event, which was held during rainy conditions, Moussadji had served as a support vehicle driver. “This year saw gorgeous weather. From the Malaspina substation on we were walking in full sun, so it was pretty sweaty,” she noted.
Moussadji, who has lived in Egmont for seven years, has been with her community’s volunteer fire department for two and a half years. She is one of five female members of that department and took on the deputy chief’s role earlier this year. She also volunteers with Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue.
When asked why she signed up for the event, she stated “as firefighters we are here to help our community in any way we can.”
