Not a traditional road race or even a triathlon - Climb the Wall, the eighth annual Stairclimb for Clean Air, is a stair climb to the top of one of B.C.'s tallest buildings, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, in support of lung health and clean air.
This year's event, held Feb. 22, saw more than 550 participants scale the 48 floors of the downtown Vancouver landmark - including stair master and local Shaun Stephens-Whale, for whom the event is another opportunity to put his athletic capacity to the test. A veteran stair climber and five time winner of the fastest stairclimb title, Stephens-Whale was victorious for the sixth time, completing the 160-metre climb in four minutes, 23 seconds flat.
BC Lung Association executive director Scott McDonald said the event exceeded fundraising and participation expectations.
"We had a terrific mix of people young and old," McDonald said. "We had firefighters, top-ranked athletes, people directly impacted by lung disease and people looking for community involvement - all uniting in support of lung health and clean air."
Total dollars raised in support of the BC Lung Association to date are $180,000, well ahead of last year's overall total of $127,000. Fundraising will continue until March 20, so organizers hope to see the total rise even higher. All event proceeds go towards vital lung health and air quality research, programs and initiatives.
The annual fundraiser attracts competitive stair climbers out to set personal bests and more than 100 firefighters who compete every year in their own special category, but the vast majority of participants do so in the name of lung health and a worthy cause.
To make a donation visit www.stairclimb.ca or call the BC Lung Association at 1-604-731-LUNG (5864).
