THE WORLD'S LARGEST ON-AIR STAIR CLIMB COMPETITION.
AT 788 FEET OF VERTICAL ELEVATION, THE COLUMBIA CENTER IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE STANDS AS THE SECOND TALLEST BUILDING WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, AND THE TALLEST IN SEATTLE. IT TAKES 69 FLOORS OF STAIRS AND 1,356 STEPS TO REACH THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED SKY VIEW OBSERVATORY OVERLOOKING THE EMERALD CITY. ON MARCH 10TH, 2,000 FIREFIGHTERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD ASCEND THE TOWER TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY. OVER THE SEASON, THESE INSPIRATIONAL PARTICIPANTS WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR BLOOD CANCER RESEARCH AND PATIENT SERVICES.
THIS CONSISTENTLY SOLD-OUT EVENT IS OPEN SOLELY TO CAREER OR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO MUST COMPLETE THIS CHALLENGING COURSE WHILE ON-AIR. COMPLETING THE CLIMB IS A PHYSICAL TRIUMPH IN ITSELF, BUT IS ALSO SYMBOLIC OF, YET PALES IN COMPARISON TO, THE STRENUOUS JOURNEY THAT BLOOD CANCER PATIENTS ENDURE. AS FIREFIGHTERS RACE TO THE TOP, THEY KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERY STEP FORWARD IS REPRESENTATIVE OF MOVING TOWARD FINDING A CURE FOR ALL THOSE BATTLING THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. NOW IN ITS 33RD YEAR, THIS EVENT HAS RAISED OVER $25 MILLION FOR LLS.
