Members of Heartland Regional Fire climbed the tallest tower in Calgary to raise more than $16,500 for cancer support.
The Station 1 crew members were among more than 500 first responders from across Canada who descended on downtown Calgary on June 14 for the 12th annual Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge.
The event tasks participants with climbing 57 stories inside Brookfield Place.
Making the feat even more physically demanding, the firefighters climbed the 1,370 steps wearing modified duty gear.
The Heartland Regional crew crossed the finish line at the top of the tower with an official time of 13 minutes and 15 seconds.
To prepare for the challenge, team members practiced scaling the towering G3 grain elevator in nearby Erskine.
Crew members shared details of their training process during a recent appearance on Hometown Media Stettler’s podcast, The Heartbeat.
The team’s $16,512 total was generated through a combination of online community donations and a local 50/50 draw.
All proceeds from the event benefit Wellspring Alberta, a non-profit organization providing support groups to individuals facing a cancer diagnosis.
Organizers note that donations for this year’s campaign remain open through the end of June, with contributions of $20 or more eligible for a tax receipt.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
