Seven London firefighters will be taking a few days off from battling blazes this spring to champion the battle against muscular dystrophy.
On March 15, the men will be calling the roof of Covent Garden Market home for 72 hours — outfitting the space with a canvas tents and patio lanterns — to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
“Historically, that’s the charity most firefighters typically raise money for,” firefighter Tom Nicholson said. He added departments across the country have raised close to $60 million — around $500,000 being from London — since they partnered with Muscular Dystrophy Canada more than 50 years ago.
The event in March will mark the second time London firefighters participated in the event. When asked why he’s taking to the market’s roof again, Nicholson said it’s simple: Owen McGonigal.
“When you meet him, it’s easy just to say why you do it,” Nicholson said. “He’s a fantastic kid.”
File Photo
Owen McGonigal poses with his new helmet and Chief John Kobarda at fire department headquarters late October when the seven-year-old was made the honourary top dog.
Seven-year-old Owen has muscular dystrophy and a love for firefighters. In fact he was named honourary fire chief last October.
Not only does Owen speak to politicians and firefighters about muscular dystrophy, but he talks at schools and other functions about his favourite profession and what they do for the cause.
“They do pretty cool stuff,” Owen said. “They support muscular dystrophy and they really help us by raising money and that sort of stuff.”
While firefighters tend to work in hotter than normal temperatures, it was quite the opposite during last year’s roof top event. Instead they found themselves in frigid temperatures during a rainy windstorm.
Nicholson said the conditions were horrible. He chuckled as he recalled holding down the team’s tent so the wind wouldn’t catch it before it was tied down with ropes. He explained the group was considering cutting their losses and calling it quits because there wasn’t a lot of people milling around downtown during the windstorm, which made raising funds difficult.
“Nobody was coming to the market because everyone was just inside because you couldn’t go outside,” Nicholson said, adding only $80 was raised the first day. “We were almost getting ready to say forget this and here comes Owen with his mom and dad and his wheelchair. He’s got his little fireman outfit on and a smile on ear to ear.”
Photo by Mallory Clarkson/London Community News
(From left) Firefighters Jeff McDonald, Tom Nicholson, Sean Beer and Bob Geilen are four of the seven men who will camp out on the Covent Garden Market’s roof for 72 hours to raise money for muscular dystrophy.
Nicholson said Owen told them his story, which gave the guys the push they needed to stay out in the wind and rain.
“We just looked at each other (and said) if he can put up with what he’s putting up with, we can put up with a couple more days of this.”
And they did. On the third day on the roof, the team managed to raise around 80 per cent of their total $9,100.
When Owen was told about his impact on the firefighters, he was shocked.
“(It) just amazed me because I didn’t know that,” he said smiling.
This year the seven-man crew is not only looking to raise $10,000, but they’re hoping the weather co-operates, too.
Firefighter Jeff McDonald agreed Owen is one of the reasons last year’s fundraiser was a success.
“It was pretty bad weather and (Owen) stopped by,” McDonald said. “We all said right after that we could do another week of this after seeing where the money goes.”
Every cent raised stays within the local community, namely for muscular dystrophy research. Nicholson said he hopes that research will save a life one day.
“We’re just providing the funds for somebody else to be that hero so they can save a life in a different avenue,” he said.
Chuck Joosten, president of the Ontario and Nunavut Region of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, said the money funds not only finding a cure, but services as well.
“We do a lot for people suffering from muscular dystrophy,” Joonsten said. “We have a fund that we help people buy their wheelchairs, strollers, scooters, beds and everything else like that.”
He added the organization helps anyone who has one of the 200 types of muscular dystrophy.
Joosten added he hopes the high-profile event will spread a lot of awareness throughout the community.
Owen’s mother said the family has benefited from the support of both the local fire department and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
“I think the most important thing we’ve gotten from muscular dystrophy is just a network of support,” Angela McGonigal said.
She remarked that since the first time Muscular Dystrophy Canada asked them to reach out and speak with their local fire department, “They just fully embraced Owen and took him in as one of their own.”
People looking to donate can do so at the Covent Garden Market from March 15-18. More information on muscular dystrophy can be found at www.muscle.ca.
