Gibsons firefighters are already gearing up for the 13th annual Climb the Wall: The Stairclimb for Clean Air with regular workouts and stair climbing drills so they'll be ready for the March 16th event in Vancouver.
Team leader Cody Robinson said the Gibsons firefighters take the annual stair climb to raise money for the B.C. Lung Association seriously.
"It's something the department's been taking part in for a while," he said, noting one member, Greig Soohen, is "in his 60s and still out there doing it."
This year's team includes Robinson, Soohen, Tony Browton, Neil Donovan and Jordan Pratt.
No other fire departments or individuals from the Coast were registered for the stairclimb at press time.
The annual Stairclimb for Clean Air sees on average 500 participants descend on the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, ready to climb up 739 stairs to the top of the 48-storey building.
The point of the climb is to raise two things: awareness about lung disease and money needed for research to combat it.
"Lung disease is the single fastest growing cause of hospitalization, disability and death in Canada today," said the B.C. Lung Association in a news release. "Every year lung disease changes, cripples and ends lives at an increasing rate, yet it remains one of the least funded areas in medical research. We have to change that. Help make lung disease history."
Climbers must raise a minimum of $125 each to take part in the stairclimb, however Robinson said his team is aiming for $1,000.
You can give to the Gibsons firefighters on their team page at http://climb thewall2014.kintera.org or by dropping off a donation at the Gibsons Volunteer Fire Department at 790 North Road. Donations are tax deductible.
If you would like to put a team together for the stairclimb or want to take it on by yourself visit the same link as above for more information.
