Lenoir County firefighters raised nearly $30,000 for charities

Lenoir County firefighters have made the most out of two fundraisers this year.

On May 13, the union raised $19,688 in its St. Baldricks fundraiser at East Coast Wings for child cancer awareness and treatment.

Then earlier this month, firefighters in several different units combined to raise $9,429.49 in a Fill The Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Collectively, $29,117.49 was raised for the two charities.

Coastal Carolina MDA fundraising coordinator Elizabeth Welborn said it was the highest total ever accumulated by the Lenoir County firefighters, as well as the greatest amount of volunteer firefighters participating. This was our 60th anniversary working with firefighters and we have done plenty of work with the Kinston department, Welborn said. Kinston raised $6,441.43, which is about $1,400 more than last year. This time around, you had Deep Run and Pink Hill helping out Kinston and last week, Sandy Bottom and North Lenoir fire departments had their own Fill The Boot event. Weve never had everyone do it at once, which has been wonderful.

Jean Culbreth, organizer of the Kinston fire department union, said she had been appreciative of the firefighters work ethic, especially with the inaugural St. Baldricks event.

I cant tell you how proud I am of them, Culbreth said. I wasnt expecting this and its humbling because it not only shows how the firemen have taken off and run with it, but how giving the community is. We have some great firemen, including the volunteers, who sacrifice their time to make all of this possible.

David Ricke, a former Kinston fire captain, shared similar sentiments.

It makes me feel very proud of the men and women who have gone out and helped raise funds, aiding in getting help for childhood cancer through St. Baldricks and raising money for muscular dystrophy through the boot drive, Ricke said. Its a lot more than we expected to raise, and its great knowing the people donated to good causes trying to help.

Ricke said the union plans on having the same events next year.

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Lenoir County firefighters raised nearly $30,000 for charities