Firefighters abruptly cancel charity fundraiser

Fairfield firefighters have cancelled their "fill the boot" fundraising drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association that had been scheduled Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Trader Joe's on Blackrock Turnpike.

Organizers abruptly canceled the fundraiser Friday with no explanation.

Local 1426 of the International Association of Fire Fighters had conducted the drive outside the Black Rock Turnpike grocery store for the past seven years. In a news release announcing this year's drive, the union said it had raised more than $100,000 for the charity during that span.

Phil Higgins, a Local 1426 representative, on Friday morning said the fundraiser had been rescheduled for Sept. 1 because Trader Joe's could not host it on Aug. 18. But in an email later Friday he said the event was cancelled.

The international firefighters' union has been raising money to fight MD for nearly 60 years, the union said, and has donated $450 million since 1954, making it the charity's largest national sponsor.

The money raised by Fairfield firefighters in the past has funded research, treatment, medical devices for those afflicted with the disease and other purposes, according to the news release.