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FMFD 100 hour rooftop campout for local charities underway in Eagle Ridge

Last Updated May 8, 2019 at 8:50 am MDT

PHOTO. Trent Winton, Kelly Townsend, Jonathan Bruggeling, Danielle Deslauriers, and Trevor Shants about to make their way to the roof for the 2019 FMFD Rooftop Campout. Melanie Walsh. REPORTER.

Five firefighters have made the roof of the Tim Hortons in Eagle Ridge their home until Saturday, May 11.

This is the eighth year that firefighters with the Fort McMurray Fire Department (FMFD) have camped out on the roof in support of local charities.

This year though, they’ve added something new: Danielle Deslauriers, one of the firefighters on the roof, has pledged to shave her head for the cause.

Seven hair salons and studios across town have donation boxes. The box with the most funds will have the honours of joining the firefighters on the roof to shave Deslauriers’ roughly 23 inches of hair.

Deslauriers’ said before making her way to the roof, that she wanted to shave her head to give back to the community.

“I wanted to shave my head for my 30th birthday because it’s the only haircut I’d never had. I heard about the rooftop happening in 2019 and I volunteered to go on it and thought ‘what a great way to shave my head and try to raise money for the community.'”

Composite High School has also donated $500 and to wax one of the male fire fighters legs.

Scott Germaine with the Fort McMurray Fighter Fighters Charity Association said you can support the 100 hour campout by donating cash at the event or by joining them for a pancake breakfast on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

All proceeds from the FMFD Rooftop Campout will go towards the Fort McMurray Boys and Girls Club, SPCA, The Centre of Hope, Waypoints and the Wood Buffalo Food Bank.

Last year’s event, which was 25 hours shorter than other years, raised $40,000 for the same charities.