WC firefighters swinging at neuromuscular disorders

WEST CARLETON – West Carleton’s volunteer firefighters are taking a swing at fundraising in the battle against neuromuscular disorders.

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) District 6 volunteers, which basically makes up West Carleton, are teaming up and organizing a charity golf tournament on Aug. 8 at Edgewood Links to raise funds for research for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC).

For more than 70 years MDC has been OFS’s charity of choice, and this year West Carleton firefighters are organizing their own fundraising event – a charity golf tournament including golf, cart and dinner for $125.

OFS Station 62 firefighter Colton Stitt is leading the charge for District 6 firefighters and spoke to West Carleton Online on June 26 about the fundraiser.

“Back in early spring I was asked to go to the muscular dystrophy conference in Toronto,” Stitt said. “We were lacking representatives in District 6 and 8 (Corkery’s fire hall is located in District 8) and we came back and decided we wanted to put a golf tournament on.”

Stitt and his team of volunteers chose Edgewood Links near Dunrobin to host the event which will also include a 50/50 draw, raffles and other prizes.

“We’re looking for teams and we’re just starting to push,” Stitt, who calls Fitzroy Harbour home, said.

He and Jake Duhn, a Corkery resident and firefighter who also recently was captain of the Junior B Arnprior Packers hockey team, are working together to make sure the tournament is a success.

“We’re hoping to have a fun day,” Stitt, who plays a little bit of golf himself, said. “I consider myself a charity golfer.”

Stitts says members from all West Carleton’s fire halls will be in attendance.

“It’s a lot more work than I expected,” Stitt said of organizing the tournament. “The government doesn’t give a lot of funding to muscular dystrophy, and this will help kids live a more normal life. Just building a wheelchair ramp can cost $10,000.”

And that just happens to be the goal of this year’s tournament.

“We’re inviting you to be part of this exciting event as a sponsor or donor, helping us smash our goal of $10,000 and fuel groundbreaking research, vital programs, and essential services,” Stitt said. “Your support will be life changing. Together, we’re ensuring Canadians Living with neuromuscular disorders have access to cutting-edge treatments, life-saving equipment, and hope.”

For more information, you can reach out to Stitt at ottfiremdcdistrict6@gmail.com or to Dunrobin’s Lauren DeRoche, community fundraising officer, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, at lauren.deroche@muscle.ca for more information on becoming a sponsor and proud partner to this event. Or, if you’re ready to make an immediate impact, head over to www.filltheboot.ca and make a secure donation today.