Dear
IAFF Members:
It’s with deep gratitude that I express my awe at
your extraordinary dedication to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association. For more than 50 years you’ve “filled your
boot” to support MDA’s programs that offer help and hope
to people with neuromuscular diseases.
Fire fighters have given selflessly of their time and
resources to help MDA, and it never ceases to gratify me
that so many of you care so much about “my kids.” The
IAFF’s tremendous support — especially its heroic,
record-breaking efforts during the year-long celebration
of our partnership in 2004 — has brought us closer to
finding the means by which Muscular Dystrophy and
related neuromuscular diseases will be successfully
treated and cured. Credit for this magnificent
achievement goes to IAFF General President Harold
Schaitberger — and to each fire fighter who played a
part.
As we start our second half-century together, your
friendship means the world to me. You’re always on MDA’s
front line, and it’s thanks to fire fighters that
victory is within reach.
Love and appreciation …
Jerry Lewis
National Chairman
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Thank You IAFF and especially Mr. Harold
Schaitberger
You are my heroes and have been all of my life. Your
tireless and selfless work taking care of us and too
often at the expense of your own lives is an example of
great courage and abiding love that is a gift from God.
You do not get the kind of recognition you all deserve
but I wanted you all to know how much your efforts mean
to me and my family.
I have just finished watching the 2006 Jerry Lewis
Labor Day Telethon and watched your President Harold
Schaitberger present over 23 Million dollars. Mere words
cannot describe the feeling of gratitude and love I feel
in my heart for you Mr. Schaitberger and all of the
270,000 plus strong members of the IAFF. I never dreamed
that when I reached my 40's I would become one of
Jerry's Kids. It is easier to battle MD knowing I have
all of you standing with me. I am honored and humbled to
be in your presence.
Sincerely Yours,
Mark Schierbecker
2976 Arden Way
Snellville, GA 30039
MDA
Goodwill Ambassador’s Heartfelt Thanks
Sierra Nevada's Former MDA Goodwill
Ambassador Bethany Pipes thanks IAFF members for
affecting her life in a big positive way.
To all my wonderful fire fighter friends,
I thought this might be a good time to
send an update to area fire fighters on some of the
things I have been doing since I first became Sierra
Nevada MDA Junior Goodwill Ambassador. It's important to
me to let those who've influenced my life know that
their hard work was not wasted, and that good things
continue to happen as a result of their efforts.
Read more...
Thank you for risking!
Thank
you for risking your lives to fight fires and save
people.
For risking your lives to become
involved in the life of children and adults with
Muscular Dystrophy.
My son has Duchene's Muscular
Dystrophy. He is 11 years old. My son couldn't move if
he put on the boots, jacket, helmet himself. He moves
now, only through the efforts of the firemen who wear
those things. My son can't fight fires...he's too busy
fighting for his life. Thank you for fighting that fire
for him...the fire of life. My son is the joy of my life
and thanks to you...he has hope.
Thank you for your work for Muscular
Dystrophy.
My son is my hero.
You are my hope!
Gabe's Dad!
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I would like to say Thank You from my
Heart to all of you who went out and did some sort of
fundraising for MDA.
My name is John Eeten. I am from
Darien-Woodridge, IL Local 3437. My wife of 25 years was
diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy about 5 years ago.
With the help of all of you wonderful people she has
been able to get the help she needs, the meds she needs,
and the care she needs to keep going. Without all of you
out there, I don't know where we would be today!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
John R. Eeten, Jr.
Darien-Woodridge, IL Local 3437
Dear IAFF Members:
Year after year I watch IAFF support
Jerry's Kids in ways that always amaze me. You can be
sure that every time I see someone with a boot to fill,
I will help fill it. I have always and will always help
IAFF and help Jerry's kids.
Your work is honorable and know that I
am always there for you. I have been a Jerry Lewis
supporter since I was a child growing up in Peoria Ill
where I use to have a carnival to raise money for Jerry.
I am always amazed in what people and
organizations CAN DO and in the case of the IAFF
actually DO for the good of people. When I look at an
idea such as filling the boot, how simple of an idea
that is and how POWERFUL the outcome has become.
Philip Haddad
Houston, Texas
Dear President Schaitberger:
As the mother and grandmother of two clients of the Muscular
Dystrophy Association, I want you to know how very much it means to all
of us out here that your union continues to be so seriously involved in
the efforts for MDA. For me personally, it's just such a deep comfort to
see your gentle face every year during the Telethon.
My granddaughter served a total of four years as a Junior Goodwill
Ambassador, and my daughter became a helper for MDA at the age of 13 -
long before we even knew that she had Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, and
would also give birth to a child with the same genetic disorder.
Bethany, my granddaughter, has a special place in her heart for fire
fighters - she's had a great deal of interaction with them in Reno and
Sparks, Nev. for the past several years, and people like Curtis Date are
almost like family to us.
God bless and keep you and all the men and women in your organization
who work so hard to make such wonderful things happen for the Muscular
Dystrophy Association. You may not get many personal messages like this,
but I believe it's important to let others know what they mean to you -
that it MATTERS to you - whether you know them or not.
Sharon Kaufman
Portola, Calif.
I just wanted to say thank you to MDA for giving these
kids a great camp to go to. The MDA staff was super and cared so much
for these kids. I have never been so touched by anything like this
before and I have to say it was the best week of my life. I am going to
make a lifetime commitment to MDA and these kids, and will be out on the
streets spreading the word of the great job that MDA does and how
special these kids are. Thanks again for all you do.
Palm Beach County, Fla. Local 2928 member Jeff Smith
after his first MDA summer camp in Brandon, Fla.
Dear Fire fighters and MDA,
My daughter,
Halsey, has SMA II and we were adopted by Fort Wayne, IN Local 124
through the MDA. Halsey is loving the fire fighters. I was looking
through your other stories and came across fire fighter J. J. Halsey of
Colorado and wanted to send a shout out to J. J. to say thanks for
helping the MDA from a very special 5.5 year old Halsey.
My daughter, Halsey, is named after my Grandma's maiden
name, Margaret Halsey, who was originally from Long Island, New York. I
know there are other Halsey's but you are the special one.
Mathew Rosbrugh
Father of MDA kid Halsey
Dear Fire fighters and MDA,
I have attended your last three summer camps and it has
had an incredible impact on me. I have witnessed these kids enjoy and do
things that they probably do not accomplish during their normal
day-to-day activities. It gives an unforgettable to see fire fighters
work with MDA kids. In my opinion, summer camp is one of the most
important services your organization provides for these kids and their
families.
Lt. Mark V. Wiggins
Albuquerque Fire Department
From June 2003 Summer Camp in Socorro, NM
