Climbing, conquering, curing
Coeur d’Alene Firefigher and paramedic Scott Robinson stands at the base of the Columbia Center in Seattle during the 2016 Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. Local fire teams will join nearly 2,000 other firefighters who will race up 69 flights of stairs next month to raise funds and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo After about 16 minutes, Coeur d'Alene Firefighter Scott Robinson crosses the finish line of the 2016 Firefighter Stairclimb. The event raises funds for blood cancer research and helps provide quality of life and comfort for patients and their families.
By DEVIN HEILMAN
Staff Writer
The faces that peer from the posters in the stairwell of Seattle's Columbia Center remind firefighters why they must keep climbing.
"You're getting tired, but you get motivation every flight," said Coeur d'Alene firefighter Scott Robinson. "You look at these people on the posters and you get motivation because you think of what they go through with their treatments and fighting the cancer."
Those faces represent the many lives impacted or ended by leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. Those are the lives Robinson and others are climbing for March 12 during the 26th annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.
"The firefighters have pictures of who they're climbing for in their helmet or on their water bottles," Robinson said. "You see the personal connection as they're walking around."
Nearly 2,000 firefighters will wear full gear as they compete in this vertical challenge, which tests their speed and endurance. They'll climb the 1,356 stairs of 69 floors to reach the observation deck nearly 800 feet above the city while raising awareness and funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
This is Robinson's eighth year competing. At first it was for fun, but after he signed up the second time, a close family friend received a blood cancer diagnosis. That friend lost his battle a year and a half ago.
"That kind of struck a chord," Robinson said. "I think about him often."
Coeur d'Alene Fire is one of several Inland Northwest teams that will make the climb. Others include Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Northern Lakes Fire Protection District.
Northern Lakes Firefighter Josh Gernns is going for his fourth time. He said firefighters have their own interpretations on why they climb.
"It's a great cause," he said. "Another factor is it's a self-test. Some take it more seriously than others. It's a physical test of heart. For others, it's just a good time. It's a gathering of firefighters from around the world."
Gernns also has a personal reason to participate.
"My wife's sister died of a blood cancer, leukemia, when she was very young. That's something no family should have to experience," he said. "This is something that means a lot to my wife's family. I climb for her."
The LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency committed to blood cancer. Its mission is to find cures for blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Last year, more than 1,900 firefighters from more than 330 departments and five countries raised $2.3 million for research and patient services. This year, the goal is $2.5 million.
"You don't have to look very far to know somebody that's affected by blood cancer," said Robinson, whose team is hoping to raise $25,000 this year. "You see a lot of success stories, and that's because of things like LLS and the research they fund. I've seen where the money goes firsthand and it's a really good cause. They're getting close to curing more and more of these blood cancers."
The Coeur d'Alene Fire team is hosting an evening of auctions, raffles, music and dancing at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Ballroom, 209 E. Sherman Ave. Admission is free. Another fundraising event will take place Feb. 25 at Paragon Brewing, 5785 N. Government Way.
Northern Lakes engineer Bob Jaeger said his team will have a fundraiser within the next month.