The emotional Scott Firefighter Stairclimb 2010

On Sunday, March 7, 2010 more than 1,500 firefighters from 250 departments across the Pacific Northwest and beyond competed in this timed race to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle in full combat gear and self contained breathing apparati (SCBA). This unique event is the largest individual firefighter competition in the world. There were climbers from all over the Unites States, as well as from Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.

And what do these firefighters all have in common?  Aside from the challenge of climbing 69 flights of stairs, 1,311 steps at 788 feet of vertical elevation, in gear weighing in at over 50 pounds, their goal to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is their main objective. Every 4 minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer and an estimated 139,860 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2010. Last year, the firefighters raised $640,000 to help fund research and care for patients with a blood cancer.

The Stairclimb is an AMAZING event that Sam and I were honored to be a part of last year.  We were excited to participate again this year, and this time brought along my friend and budding photographer Erin Rily.  I love hearing people’s inspiring stories of survival and seeing the brotherhood and sisterhood of the firefighter community coming together to fight this disease. It makes for a very emotional day, and Sam and I never make it through this event without crying at LEAST half a dozen times.

A few facts about this year’s climb:

* Donations are still rolling in, but when I spoke to the coordinators this morning, they had already counted over $600k raised for this event.  Donations are still being taken- if you’d like to donate, please go HERE.

* This year’s fastest climber was 28 year old Kory Burgess from Missoula Rural Fire, also the fastest climber last year, with a mind-blowing finishing time of 11:01.35.

* 2010’s fastest female climber was 42 year old Georgia Daniels from Graham Fire and Rescue with a finishing time of 14:51.90.

* The oldest male to climb this year was Michael Kirk from Vashon Island Fire and Rescue at 68 years old.  His time was 20:46.00.

*The oldest female to climb this year was Val Hecker with Seattle Fire.  She is 54 years old, and her time was 22:02.10.

Turn your speakers up and check out this years slideshow!

P.S. The audio at the beginning and end of the slideshow was recorded on my iphone. That’s what it sounds like next to the stairwell when the guys are climbing.

So, this is probably one of the longest blogs I’ve ever written, but Sam and I have a particular passion for the Stairclimb.  If you want to see all 600-something photos that we took at the Stairclimb with FREE DOWNLOADS, click HERE.  And now onto some photos and the stories behind them…..

Not only is this little boy’s daddy a firefighter, but he’s a Leukemia survivor.  He stole my heart the first second I saw him….

I love that he shaved “LLS” into his hair to stand for “The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”

 

The event begins with the first battalion of firefighters being led to the starting line by the Snohomish County Firefighters Pipes and Drums.

Once the firefighters get to the 5th Avenue entrance, they sign in and get their wristbands.  The wristbands are then swiped to mark the beginning time of their climb.  They then swipe it at the finish line on the 70th floor Observation Deck, recording their total climbing time.

Before starting their climb, the guys have to wait their turn to climb outside the Columbia Tower…and I think for many, this is when they get psyched up, scared, excited and worried, all at the same time.

This firefighter is one of the climbers from New Zealand (and boy oh boy, did she mock me when I asked her if she was from Australia…LOL):

…and here are her fellow New Zealander firefighters (along with one Australian firefighter that came with them.)

This was one of the photos taken by Erin:

This amazing woman is wearing a pink helmet because she is a breast cancer survivor…TWICE.  A few years ago, she did the Stairclimb BALD…

I love the next two shots that Sam got…

A quick smooch before beginning the climb:

Sam got this next FANTASTIC shot of one of the guys eyeballing the tower before his climb:

Some of the firefighters wet down their gloves before the climb to allow for a better grip on the handrails on their way up the stairwell.

One of my fave shots from the day: Counting the floors..

A good luck charm:  This firefighter climbed the tower with his stuffed buddy, Sanchez, who was made for him by a friend of his.

A quick prayer before heading up the 69 flights of stairs:

Checking his starting time:

Once the firefighters start their climb, they have 40 floors to go until they get an oxygen change and possibly a drink of water.  The 40th floor is a crazy whirlwind of activity, with firefighters going in and out of the stairwell as quickly as they can.  The longer they take switching their oxygen thanks, the more seconds it will add onto their final climb time. Each unit brings their own volunteer team to help the guys switch their tanks and get them water, then back into the stairwell.

At first, I thought this firefighter had collapsed from exhaustion.  Turns out, he was just a show off and did a few pushups…what a toughie!!!!

This sweet boy almost didn’t get to come to the Stairclimb…he underwent a bone marrow transplant only a few days before.  He was determined to come anyway, and here he is watching the guys on the 40th floor.

Here are some of the guys on their way up in the stairwell….

The top floor at the finish line is where things get REALLY intense.  A lot of the guys are in really rough shape…but there are a lot who just waltz in as though they’ve just had a stroll in the park.  AMAZING….

Erin caught this fantastic shot of this firefighter right after coming out of the stairwell…I don’t even look this enthused when I climb ONE FLIGHT OF STAIRS in my house!!!

After the guys complete their climb, they come back down and receive a complimentary massage from MERT, which is a fantastic volunteer organization designed to do massage relief for people of service, both in times of emergency and in times of non-emergency.

 

And just as a fun sidenote, here’s a shot that Erin snapped of Sam and I in front of our two photos that are on display on the Observation Deck of the Columbia Tower.  Both of those photos were from last year’s Stairclimb.  I took the one on the right and Sam’s in the one on the left (YOUR left, not OUR left..hehehe).  This is such a HUGE honor, and we couldn’t be MORE proud.

All in all, this year’s stairclimb was an incredible event.  Thank you to all of the firefighters who climbed to raise money, their friends and family who support them, and to all of the people who donated to this cause.

I’ll end this blog with one of my favorite shots from the day: