Donning more than 40 pounds of firefighting turnout gear and trudging up 48 flights of stairs, breathing out of an air pack the whole time feels “terrible,” said Gibsons Fire Chief Rob Michael, but the pain didn’t stop his team.
The eight Gibsons firefighters raised $1,919 for the 17th annual Climb the Wall challenge, which took place on Feb. 18 at the 491-foot, 739-step Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. “It’s so humbling to recognize how exhausting just walking up a flight of stairs can be with all the equipment,” Michael said.
Individuals and teams race up the hotel’s stairs to the top floor, with proceeds raised by participants going to the BC Lung Association. This year, participants raised more than $65,000.
Gibsons firefighter Sebastian Sleep came in 10th overall with a time of 8:08, setting a Gibsons Fire Department record. “It was definitely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done,” he said. “Wearing the firefighter gear, the turnout gear, makes it really difficult. You get extremely hot in it quite quickly and you’re also not able to really breathe.” That’s because participants use the breathing apparatus they’d use when fighting fires. “I had a really sore throat afterwards. It’s hard on the respiratory system.”
The Sunshine Coast is low on skyscrapers, but high on hills, which the team took advantage of. Training included runs up Soames hill and School Road in turnout gear. To raise extra funds, the team set up an exercise bike at the Gibsons IGA where the firefighters pedalled for donations. Serena Murphy, a new volunteer, came up with the idea and raised $800, the most at the fire hall. “She really took off running with this,” said Michael.
This year the team was able to incorporate new gear into the training exercise thanks to a new shipment of air packs. “Anytime that I can get my members in their personal protective equipment to see how it works and how it operates and get comfortable with it is also another benefit.”
Michael said the fact that the fundraiser is for lung cancer research is a big motivator for the volunteers. “This is something we often see in our industry,” he said, adding that many have personal connections, “it’s something that really resonates with this group.”
Michael has participated in the past, but stepped aside this year. “I couldn’t send much more than eight – I need to have some firefighters at home.”
Jonathan Parlee and Dagan Benner from the fire hall at Sechelt also participated this year, with the team raising $625. Retired Sechelt fire chief Bill Higgs was the province’s top fundraiser, bringing in $3,525.
Higgs has participated in three events, earning the most in the province each time. In 2016, he raised $7,500. “I’ve been successful because I know a lot of people. I was born and raised here.” Higgs, 60, climbed the hotel’s stairs in just over 21 minutes, beating his last time by one minute. “I was pretty happy with it. I thought it took me forever, but I did okay. It’s just hard, hard, hard.”
