East Boston- On January 26, members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department participated in a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) at Jeveli’s Restaurant in East Boston. Office and business workers from around East Boston signed up weeks prior to the event as volunteers and helped raise money aiding in the battle over Muscular Dystrophy.

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chris Kiley and Officer John Igoe, went in Sheriff’s Department cruisers with mock warrants to pickup the volunteers, referred to as jailbirds, and brought them back to a MDA Bailiff who had them put on a jail uniform and take a mug shot behind bars. The jailbirds then used telephones to raise their bail money by contacting their pledge supporters. After the bail amount was reached, they were released and given a ride back to their offices. The event held at Jeveli’s helped to raise over $12,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department has been a tremendous help to the MDA,” said J C Laven, District Director for the MDA. “This is a big reason why the Lock-up runs so smoothly. The Sheriff’s Department Officers help with transportation and aiding in the overall theme of the event.”

Seventy-six percent of every dollar the MDA spends goes directly to research and services and money raised in Suffolk County remains here to support local families living with neuromuscular diseases. Here are just some examples of what the funds raised at the Lock-Up can achieve: $25 provides an annual flu shot for one person, $65 funds one minute of research, $600 sends a child to MDA summer camp for a week, and $2,000 can go towards the purchase of a wheelchair, a set of leg braces or a communication device.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association of Greater Boston sponsors the Lock-Up event quarterly at various restaurants around the City of Boston.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department has been a strong supporter of the MDA for over six years now and enjoys helping to make the Lock-up event a huge success. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department is looking forward to continuing their tradition by helping the MDA at the next fundraiser.

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