VIDEO: The Muscular Dystrophy Association helps children and families in the a are who have one of the 43 muscular diseases. The Minot Fire Department has teamed up with them to help raise funds and awareness about these diseases by filling these boots. Firefighters from around the world have teamed up with the MDA for the Fill the Boot project for more than 60 years. The Minot Fire Department has raised large amounts of money over the years for families in North Dakota whose children suffer from these diseases. Last year they raised more than $50,000, but they say they plan to raise more this year. Yesterday alone, with the help of the community, they raised nearly $24,000, breaking first-day records in the state. The MDA supports nearly 2,500 families in North Dakota. Sending children to special camps, funding research, and educating the families who have children with a muscular disease. "Those kids had a huge impact on me, what they go through everyday, what their families go through everyday. They're super special, they're awesome probably the best sense of humor and I wanna see them keep having fun," says Minot Firefighter, MDA coordinator, Mitch Murphy.