Stepping up to fight leukemia

POST FALLS - Climbing 69 flights of stairs - 1,311 steps in all - with more than 50 pounds of firefighting gear on is hard work.

But the cause eased some of the pain.

Nine local firefighters participated in the recent 20th annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb at Seattle's Columbia Center, the second-tallest building west of the Mississippi at 943 feet, to raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that fights blood cancers.

"It's harder than any of us thought it'd be," said Frank Harwood, captain of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue's team. "We didn't know what to expect, but we all finished."

The Columbia Center, formerly Bank of America Tower, is one-and-a-half times the height of Seattle's Space Needle.

KCFR placed 45th out of 137 teams at the competition. KCFR's Luke Szymanski, the top local finisher in 14 minutes, 52 seconds, placed 56th out of 1,336 finishers.

The winner for the third straight year was Missoula (Mont.) Rural Fire's Kory Burgess, who finished in a record 10:53, 2 seconds faster than his previous record.

Other KCFR finishers included: Harwood, 16:42; Duane Hanna, 19:11; Kevin Lawler, 26:19; Rick Clutter, 29:38; and Nicholas Newton, 22:05.

KCFR has raised $2,177 so far.

To make a contribution to the nonprofit on behalf of a fire department or firefighter, visit www.FireFighterStairClimb.org before March 31.

Other local firefighters who participated included: Coeur d'Alene Fire's Scott Dietrich, who finished in 26:53 and has raised $355; Northern Lakes' Robert Jaeger, 16:46, $75; and Timberlake's Josh Gernns, 21:55, $920.

A total of 1,550 firefighters representing 281 departments from 27 states, Canada and New Zealand participated. Last year's fundraiser brought in a record $780,000 for blood cancer research and patient services.

Harwood said local firefighters plan to use a stair-step machine at a grocery store next year to raise more awareness for the event.

"That will help us get the word out and train in the process," Harwood said.