Fire district team will make a steep climb for a good cause
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Members of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) will compete on Sunday, March 13 in the annual LLS Firefighter Stairclimb at Seattle’s Columbia Tower.
A fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the annual event draws firefighters from around the country, who climb 69 floors — 1,356 steps — in full turnout gear and on air. At the same time, they are raising money to fund blood cancer research and patient services.
Eight members from VIFR have been training for the event, with several showing up with a stairclimber at Thriftway last Saturday to raise both awareness and funds. Islanders donated more than $2,000 that day, bringing the amount the team has raised so far to about $8,000. They have set a team goal of $15,000.
The participants are enthusiastic about the challenge and the cause.
“I’m proud to be a part of a group that is willing to take time away from their jobs and families to help support this great organization and its cause in finding a cure,¨ said team Captain Matt McCann. ¨I can’t thank our amazing community of Vashon Island enough in their support of both this team and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is an honor to be a part of!”
Donations to individuals, and the team as a whole, can still be made by visiting tinyurl.com/2p9xnafv. Type “Vashon” into the “Search Team” box.
