Thirty firefighters from Lewis and South Thurston counties will join more than 2,000 other firefighters from around the world on the stairs of Seattle’s Columbia Center on Sunday, March 9, to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Participating firefighters will climb 1,356 steps, 788 feet of vertical elevation, to the top of the Columbia Center in full structural turnout gear, while on air, as part of an annual fundraiser for LLS.
“With every step, they raise critical funds for lifesaving blood cancer research, free patient support and advocacy for better healthcare policies,” LLS Firefighter Stairclimb organizers state on the event’s website.
The event is open solely to career and volunteer firefighters.
“Completing the climb is a physical triumph in itself, but is also symbolic of, yet pales in comparison to, the strenuous journey that blood cancer patients endure,” LLS Firefighter Stairclimb organizers stated on the event’s website. “As firefighters race to the top, they keep in mind that every step forward is representative of moving toward finding a cure for all those battling this terrible disease.”
In total, 20 firefighters from fire departments in Lewis County have registered for the stairclimb.
Lewis County Fire District 6 in Adna and Chehalis is sending four firefighters: Mike Goodwillie, Trevor Minkoff, Devin Schlapbach and Kyle Wilson.
The Riverside Fire Authority in Centralia is sending seven firefighters: William Ariss, Joseph Hamilton, Chris Layton, Jillian McCarthy, Travis McCarthy, Spencer Schwiesow and Scott Weinert.
Winlock Fire and Rescue is sending nine firefighters: Matthew Anderson, Michael Berg, JonPaul Blum, Casey Carroll, Amy Farden, Rachel ONeil, Richard Underdahl, Justin Wilkey and Kelsey Williams.
Ten firefighters from South Thurston County fire departments are also joining the stairclimb.
The West Thurston Regional Fire Authority is sending seven firefighters: William Crabb, Timothy Fox, Ryan Lohse, Devyn Miller, Andrea Reynoldson, Ricardo Santee and Christian Vavrinec.
The Southeast Thurston Fire Authority in Yelm is sending three firefighters: Samuel Banner, Jeff Brown and Larry Wahl.
Event participants had raised over $1.5 million for the LLS as of Thursday afternoon — half of the event’s $3 million goal.
Last year’s event raised just over $2.05 million for the LLS.
In total, the event has raised over $25 million for the LLS since the first event was held 34 years ago.
For more information, including battalion times and how to donate in support of specific firefighters and fire departments, visit firefighterstairclimb.org.
Updates will be posted on the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ffstairclimb.
