The Selma Fire Department does a great job day in and out in helping residents in great times of need.

But they stepped up even more recently with their Fill the Boot campaign, which supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

According to the Mayo Clinic, muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.

There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys. Other types don’t surface until adulthood.

Some people who have muscular dystrophy will eventually lose the ability to walk. Some may have trouble breathing or swallowing.

There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. But medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.

While a final total is not available yet, organizers believe this year’s campaign will be one of the best ever due to a lot of hard work from the department.

Helping them in the cause again this year was Golden Ranch B-B-Q. The restaurant has worked the past two years and again raised $750.

It’s great to see the partnership and what two entities, in this case public and private, can do together.