First responders honoured with memorial stair climb
Annual event Oct. 22 at Lethbridge Centre
On Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters and first responders rushed to aid those who were trapped in the World Trade Center twin towers.
When the 10-year anniversary approached, members of the Lethbridge Fire Department were determined to honour the lives of their 343 fallen brothers and sisters from the Fire Department of the City of New York, the 70 law enforcement officers and all the lives lost as a result of the attack.
Since then, local firefighters have hosted an annual Lethbridge Memorial 9-11 Stair Climb and next month will mark their seventh.
“We’re encouraging all members of the public to come out and join us, we have firefighters, police, EMS, dispatchers. We all take part in running the climb to remember our fallen,” said firefighter Mark Matheson.
The event was intended to raise awareness, he noted. However, as the memorial event grew, firefighters saw the value in making it a fundraising event.
With so many first responders memorials taking place, Matheson said “we wanted to find something that is appropriate to all.”
This year, funds will be donated to the Tema Conter Memorial Trust. It’s a “good organization that nationally helps first responders with PTSD and their families that are dealing with that,” Matheson explained.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience a small portion of what the strenuous rescue may have been like.
On Oct. 22, participants will gather at the The Lethbridge Centre Tower to retrace the ascent and descent of the 110-storey World Trade Center.
Firefighters will attempt the climb in their gear and Matheson noted police officers often participate in uniform as well.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and members of the public will have the opportunity to try the climb with firefighting gear, on a first come, first served basis, as equipment will be limited.
“We encourage everyone to join us in the climb. You don’t have to do it in firefighter turnouts,” said Matheson. “It’s for fun, it’s not a race by any means, we just encourage everyone to come out.”
Ten laps of the Lethbridge Centre Tower takes anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes.
“When we’re doing it in gear, it takes us quite a while to climb the stairs, so it gives us a lot of time to reflect. We like to do it as team because we always do everything as a team. We encourage each other and get up there and get it done.”