Photo: Mike Macklin/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The American Lung Association held its 20th annual Fight For Air Climb at One Boston Place Saturday.
It’s 41 floors and 82 flights of stairs, with every step all for a good cause to fight lung diseases.
“Exercise is obviously extremely important but making healthy choices about not smoking not vaping is crucially important as well,” ALA CEO Ashley Carrier told WBZ NewsRadio.
The challenge is open to everyone, from first-timer to returning racers.
Jay, a Navy veteran, is a returning climber and said the challenge never gets easier.
“Every year I come back, and every year I forget how tough it is,” he said. “I say this is a unique challenge. You can run five, ten marathons, but climbing straight up, that’s unique.”
First responders from local Fire Departments joined in on the Firefighter Challenge to climb the challenge full firefighter gear.
“I tried to put my shoes in the guys that were there on 9/11 and what they had to go through,” Matt, a firefighter, said. “If they can be that mentally tough I just told myself that 41 flights in a beautiful building I really have nothing to worry about.”
The event hoped to raise more than $200,000 dollars for research, advocacy and education.
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports.