A team from the Gibsons fire department is busy training for the daunting task of climbing 48 flights of stairs in support of the B.C. Lung Association.
On Feb. 27, team Gibsons, led by James Ingram, will be donning their turnout gear to participate in the 10th annual Stairclimb for Clean Air.
The event challenges British Columbians to go one-on-one with one of B.C.'s tallest staircases -48 floors and 739 steps tall -in support of lung health and clean air. The staircase leads to the rooftop of Vancouver landmark, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel.
To train, the group will be running up the steep School Road hill from Molly's Reach in full firefighting gear -a training method used by Alyson Davies, who won the title of fastest female firefighter at the 2008 Stairclimb. Having responded to a record number of calls last year, the Gibsons department is hoping their training regime will attract attention and increase interest in volunteer firefighting.
Ingram participated in the event for the first time last year in honour of his father-in-law, Len Doyle, who succumbed to lung cancer two years ago.
"The event is a great way to help others who suffer from this and similar diseases," Ingram said. "I enjoy competing, but mainly I enjoy the feeling of camaraderie created by the event for the wide range of people who show up to support the cause."
Overall, organizers expect more than 500 people to take on the Stairclimb challenge this year, including more than 100 firefighters who will race to the top wearing 25 kilograms of gear. Last year climbers ranged in age from five to 84, with an average climb time of 10 minutes.
For all of those taking on the 48 flight fight for clean air, events co-ordinator Marissa McFadyen said the event provides healthy motivation to skip the elevator and take the stairs.
"If more of us used our feet instead of the elevator or cars to make short trips, it would not only help to burn off extra weight, but would keep pounds of pollutants out of the air -and that's good for everyone's health," McFadyen said.
To participate in the 10th Annual Stairclimb for Clean Air, a registration fee of $25 is required to cover event administration, and participants must fundraise a minimum of $125.
All proceeds from the event go toward lung health and air quality related educational programs, vital medical research and patient support activities throughout B.C.
For more information or to register for Stairclimb for Clean Air, visit www.stairclimb.ca.
