In just two days, Bellbrook firefighters collected more than $2,300 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Labor Day Telethon Ð an all-time high for the department's annual effort.

The donations were collected at Fire Station 2 on Sunday and Monday and were part of the national "Fill the Boot" campaign promoted by many fire departments across the nation.

Lieutenant Derek Montgomery, president of the Bellbrook Firefighters' Association, was pleased by the response from citizens.

"We knew we had support from the community for this activity, but this year's response was phenomenal," he said. "We're already talking about pushing toward a goal of $3,000 next year."

Chief Scott Hall was also excited about the community's response to the campaign.

"When you look at how we did compared to some of the larger cities, it's amazing," Hall said. "The citizens always rally behind this effort and this year was no exception."

MDA is the world's largest non-governmental sponsor of research seeking the causes of and cures for 40 neuromuscular diseases, sponsoring some 400 research projects annually. The 1999 telethon raised more than $53 million.

Release I99-03