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Vermilion Fire Truck Pull raises funds for muscular dystrophy

Vermilion is flexing their muscles in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada with Vermilion’s first annual Fire Truck Pull. Teams of eight to ten people tested their strength by seeing who was faster in pulling a fire truck a 100 feet.

All proceeds raised go towards MDC services programs offered to individuals and their families affected by neuromuscular disorders living in Alberta. One of the organizers, Megan Dyjuer says the event has been going for a while on the east coast. The inaugural fundraiser in Vermilion was sparked by some friendly competition.

“The east coast challenged the west coast to see who could raise the most money doing this, so we decided to pick the torch and do the first one.”

Vermilion and Mission, B.C became the first two cities on the west coast to participate in the event both holding the event on September 14th.

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Participants were recognized for the fastest time, most spirited and last-place finishing team dubbed the “Better Luck Next Time Award”. Teams pulled a 27,000 Lbs fire truck, which was donated by the Lakeland College Emergency Training Centre. Lakeland firefighting students came out on top with the fastest time of 15.57 seconds and Dyjuer’s team “The Meg” took home the other two honours.

Dyjuer says the two other organizers decided to help out because the cause was important to them as firefighters. For her, it’s personal as she was diagnosed with MD seven years ago. MD is a group of muscle diseases that results in increasing weakening and breakdown of skeletal muscles over time.

“It progressed to the point where I can’t run anymore. Stairs are kind of a struggle and I use a walker now to just to keep myself stable.”

Dyjuer says symptoms started progressively getting worse after she started showing signs when she was 14, struggling to run in gym class. She says her brother, who was away at college, was the first one to notice the change as she struggled with stairs.

The MD fundraiser activities for all families with a dunk tank, a BBQ and a steak fry at the Vermilion Legion afterwards. At the beginning of the event, over $ 2,200 was raised with online donations and registration fees. Anyone looking to donate can do so by visiting the Vermilion Fire Truck Pull website.

 

 

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