There are only six weeks left for the chance to buy a Harley Davidson for $20.

For an eighth summer, Langford Fire Department is raffling off a motorcycle to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. The prize is a 2014 Harley Davidson Fatboy, and with only 3,000 tickets being printed, the odds are pretty darn good.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 better odds than the lottery,B次元官网网址� says Deputy Fire Chief Kerry Zado.

He and other firefighters have been taking the bike around to car shows and swap meets, showing off the shiny chrome and selling tickets. Their hope is to sell out well before the Aug. 17 draw.

B次元官网网址淲e have to purchase the bike,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淪teve Drane Harley Davidson gives us as good a deal as he can, and he covers the cost of insurance to transport the bike (to different venues).B次元官网网址� But the bike still costs, so the more tickets they sell, the more goes to the cause.

Zado says the money is used B次元官网网址渢o fund research, client services and education, and medical equipment to make the lives of people with muscular dystrophy a little more comfortable.B次元官网网址�

Firefighters have been fundraising since 1954 to help those battling the disease, he says. It all started when a firefighter needed help to fund medical equipment for his son. The father and a neighbour went door to door to fundraise and it took off from there.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the charity of choice for firefighters all across Canada, as well as the burn unit,B次元官网网址� Zado says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e recognizing 60 years (this year) in partnership with muscular dystrophy.B次元官网网址�

The disease can affect anybody at anytime and isnB次元官网网址檛, as many people think, strictly a childhood disease. Many forms of MD affect adults as well, male and female alike. ItB次元官网网址檚 a wasting disorder, with the muscles of the body B次元官网网址� including the diaphragm and heart B次元官网网址� deteriorating over time. This usually leads to fatal breathing and heart complications.

B次元官网网址淥xygen therapy is probably the most common way to help. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 really slow down the process, but it helps them breathe and live longer,B次元官网网址� Zado says.

There arenB次元官网网址檛 really any treatment options beyond oxygen, but there are several drugs undergoing trials. For those living with MD, medical advancements and the research behind them are vitally important. For Zado, whoB次元官网网址檚 been fundraising for 25 years, the Harley Davidson raffle presents an opportunity to contribute a substantial amount to the cause.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e about one third sold,B次元官网网址� he says regarding ticket sales so far.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e available right up until the draw the afternoon of Aug. 17 at the Goldstream Auto Show. Buy them at the Langford fire halls or at Steve Drane Harley Davidson.   For more information, contact Zado at winafatboy@gmail.com.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com