As you may or may not know one of our long-time supporters, a Fire Fighter from Wichita Falls , TX , recently received a confirmed diagnosis of ALS. Here is a man who did “Fill the Boot” for MDA for twenty years with his IAFF Local #432 and never thought that he would now be a recipient of MDA’s services. He wrote the following letter that was read by our staff representative at the recent Louisiana Professional Fire Fighters Association Convention. He attended the Professional Fire Fighters of Oklahoma Convention in person and gave a very heartfelt speech to which he received a standing ovation from his fellow Fire Fighters. During his speech he said that he now feels that he had three families, his own family, his Fire Fighter family and his MDA family.

 I wanted you to see this for a couple of reasons. We all know that last year was a rough one and that while we are doing everything that we can to make this a much better one there are still some challenges out there. I hope that this letter will help you to never forget how important your work is to the families we serve. You are making a difference to people like Kelly that is immeasurable.

 I also hope that you will share this letter with your Fire Fighters so that they will know how important their efforts are to individuals we serve like Kelly. We would not be the organization we are today, providing the finest services as well as our world-wide research efforts, without our Fire Fighters.

 Thanks for all you are doing!

 Ed

 Ed Baker
Divisional Field Representative
12750 Merit Drive, Suite 1206
Dallas , TX 75251
972/669-3892
972/480-8215 (fax)

Jason Palmer/Times Record News Former Wichita Falls firefighter Kelly Crush is pictured after his return from a trip to Italy paid for by some of his former workmates. Crush was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, an ailment for which their is no cure.