Climbing 1,204 stairs and 55 stories sounds like an intimidating task for even the fittest people, but imagine doing it in full fire fighting gear and an oxygen tank.
Climbing 1,204 stairs and 55 stories sounds like an intimidating task for even the fittest people, but imagine doing it in full fire fighting gear and an oxygen tank.
Nine of the Bonnyville volunteer firefighters from Station #5 accepted this challenge, joining hundreds of their colleagues from all over Canada to climb the Bow Tower in Calgary.
On May 7, 2017, the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge was hosted by the Calgary Firefighters Benevolent Society. The climb is the highest elevation stairclimb in the world and all funds raised support Wellspring Calgary. This organization freely provides support to people battling cancer and their caregivers.
"Firefighters have such a high risk of developing cancer over their career. The main goal for us at Station #5, in regards to the Calgary Firefighter Stairclimb, is to raise money for a great cause, Wellspring Calgary," said captain Craig Wenzel. "This organization helps support people and their families who are living with cancer. Our nine local firefighters were able to raise just under $5,000 with the support from our community."
Members of the Bonnyville station have been participating in the Stairclimb Challenge for several years, and while each year its challenging, they keep returning for the team building and the cause. Those committed to attending the event train together before-hand, travel together, and fundraise together.
"I am one of the ones crazy enough to keep coming back," said Laura Regenwetter, local volunteer firefighter. "We have a little supper every year the night before the climb, it's become almost a tradition now. The climb itself is a mental game. Yes we train hard for it, but once you're in the stairwell it's pretty hot and you need to really push yourself."
These local heroes are not the only ones in those stairwells, there is a lot of support and encouragement from volunteers on almost every floor cheering them on. When climbing those stairs, the thoughts of what has brought them all there is what continues to give them motivation to reach the top and complete the 55-story climb.
"The climb was challenging but equally as rewarding. It's nothing in comparison to what the brave people dealing with cancer face daily," added Wenzel.
In total the event raised over $344,000 for Wellspring Calgary, an increase of over $160,000 compared to 2016. For more information about the Calgary Stairclimb Challenge visit calgarystairclimb.com.
