Firefighters collect $6,500 to support Make-A-Wish at boot drive today

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – Ridgeway firefighter Morgan Austin, third from left, collects a donation for the Make-A-Wish Foundation today on Route 104 near the Route 63 intersection. She is joined by other Ridgeway firefighters – Paige Smith, left, and Madison Austion.

Firefighters from the western battalion in Orleans County were out today collecting money in a boot drive for Make-A-Wish. The public gave about $6,500 in today’s boot drive from 9 a.m. to noon.

Firefighters were at different locations:

• Route 63 with Shelby and East Shelby firefighters,
• Maple Ridge Road and the downtown intersection with Medina firefighters
• South Lyndonville Road and Route 104 with Ridgeway firefighters.

Kyle Brakenbury, a member of the fire police for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, collects a donation today.

Firefighters did the drive today in honor of Koleson Meakin, age 4, who received a wish last January with his family through Make-A-Wish. Koleson spent a week in Disney World with his parents and little sister.

Koleson is diagnosed with TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome, a rare genetic metabolic disease.

Ridgeway Fire Chief Tyler Luckman receives a donation from a motorcyclist.

These Ridgeway firefighters include Tyler Luckman, Austin Seefeldt and Austin Mosher.

People donated cash, usually $1 or $5, but one person gave a hundred-dollar bill in Ridgeway.

This group includes, from left: Page Smith, Madison Austin, Morgan Austin, Alex Benz and Buford McAdoo. All are Ridgeway firefighters except Benz, who is a member with Shelby.