We’ve got some big shoes to fill over the next week here in Clinton, and we are hoping residents will help Clinton firefighters make their all-out effort to help those with muscular dystrophy a tremendous success.

It’s not a local initiative but there is local impact for those who have been diagnosed with MD or have loved ones who have received that muscular dystrophy diagnosis.

For that reason, we support this effort and hope others will too, helping big-hearted firefighters across the city of Clinton meet their goal next week.

City Council proclaimed Oct. 19-21 as “Fill the Boot Days,” an initiative that will see firefighters near the Walmart in Sampson Crossing, boot in hand, hoping that passersby will help them help others.

This is the second year the local fire department has participated in the MDA effort, one that has the full support of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). As MDA’s largest national sponsor, the IAFF fuels MDAs mission to save and improve the lives of people affected by muscular dystrophy.

For our local firefighters, the efforts they put forth for this initiative is impressive and yet another reason we take pride in those guys. They already put their lives on the line for us every single time they respond to a fire call, prepared to go into whatever danger awaits to help save people and structures from the flames.

To see them go the extra mile to help raise money for the MDA only fuels the flames of admiration we have for these individuals. They are heroes in every sense of the word.

So, next week, if you are at Arby’s or Bojangles or Walmart, and you see a firefighter, boot in hand, think about the cause and the effort being put forth, and dip into your pocket to help.

It will mean a lot to our local firefighters and it will mean even more to those suffering from the disease.