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Annual firefighter campout begins in Osborne Village

The boot is ready.

Firefighters in Winnipeg began their eighth annual Winnipeg Fire Fighter Rooftop Campout for Muscular Dystrophy Canada on Tuesday.

Firefighters camp on the roof of the Osborne Village fire hall, dropping down a rubber boot to collect donations.

They will also collect donations at street level from passing drivers starting Wednesday morning.

Organizers hope to raise $100,000 this year to help people with muscular dystrophy, which causes muscles to waste away over time.

If they meet their goal, the fundraiser will have raised a total of $500,000 over the past eight years.

"People throw nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies, whatever they have available, and that raises tens of thousands of dollars in a span of three days," said Chad Swayze, a Winnipeg firefighter who has taken part in the campout for all eight years.

The firefighters have to be prepared for snow, sun and rain in Winnipeg.

"We've had everything from –30 C blizzards to 10 C, so the weather, we can adapt to," he said.

Thanks to the Osborne Village BIZ, the campers will be kept busy with a range of different activities organized with help from local businesses, including fitness classes and cupcake decorating.

"We're going to be doing tons of different activities," Swayze said.

To make a donation, visit the firefighters at 150 Osborne St., Tuesday until Friday.