Firefighter B.J Lang reaches into a boot to get a donation out of it Sunday morning on top of the Maple Avenue Fire Station. Lang and firefighter Dave Kowalchuk spent two days on top of the fire hall while raising money for muscular dystrophy — it was the best year yet, with donations totalling approximately $18,000. -- NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
It was a cold weekend for two local firefighters, as the men spent 48 hours on top of the Maple Avenue Fire Station while raising approximately $18,000 for muscular dystrophy.
It was the eighth consecutive year of the Medicine Hat Firefighters Rooftop Campout, with the group breaking a single-record year in money raised, as well as pushing past the $100,000 total mark over the eight years.
“It was a great weekend for us,” said firefighter Dave Kowalchuk, one of the men sleeping on top of the station. “It’s great for us to see so much community support over the 48 hours we’re up there. It’s just great to see so many different people stop by and drop $5 or $10 into the boot.”
Kowalchuk and his partner B.J Lang were equipped with a couple tents, a radio, blankets and a lot of time to wave to people as they passed by the station over the weekend. What the men didn’t have this weekend was large dump of snow, something both men say they are thankful for.
“I know the guys doing this in Airdrie had their tent knocked over, so I’m happy that didn’t happen to us,” said Kowalchuk. “B.J and I joked Friday about the snow maybe passing us, just maybe we’ll get lucky, you know? And we did get lucky. Saturday night into Sunday was pretty cold, but the snow did miss us.”
“It’s been a bit cold today (Sunday), but the other days we got some great weather and that got a lot of people out I think,” said Lang. “We had a nice heater in our tent, and our tent was inside another tent, so we did a good job of staying warm.”
Lang says supporting muscular dystrophy means something different to everyone involved.
“I know I grew up and it was something that I saw my dad supporting,” he said. “We all know it’s a great cause, and we’re all happy to support it and volunteer our time. I know a lot of the guys give their time every year to stand outside and wave the flag, and just help out — it’s important to all of us.”
