The Montgomery County firefighters you may have seen with boots full of money last week raised nearly $200,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, according to MCFRS.

The annual “Fill the Boot” campaign, organized by the International Association of Fire Fighters, happens across the country. The money raised in Montgomery County stays local, helping about 400 county families affected by muscular dystrophy.

Proceeds go toward MDA’s local services and research programs, including aweek long summer camp for kids, support groups, and local clinics.

County firefighters waded through stopped cars at intersections to collect $196,101 over three days last week.

In the 29 years MCFRS has supported the MDA, it has raised more than $2 million for programming and research into the debilitating neuromuscular disease, according to a press release. In 2009, the department ranked fourth in the country with a fundraising haul of $254,000.

Photo via MCFRS