Boston - On April 26, members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department participated in a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) at McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant in Faneuil Hall. Office and business workers from downtown Boston signed up weeks prior to the event as volunteers and helped raise money to aid in the battle over Muscular Dystrophy.

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dennis Manning and Deputy Justin Plaza took Sheriff’s Department cruisers with mock warrants to pickup the volunteers, referred to as jailbirds, and brought them back to an “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 McCormick & Schmick’s helped to raise over $22,400 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department continues to be a tremendous help to the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” said J C Laven, District Director for the MDA. “The officers do an outstanding job of helping with the theme of our Lock–Up event.” Laven continues, “One female participant was so happy with the professionalism in which the officer came to get her that she is writing a thank you letter to the officer.”

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 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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