Hospital Stair Climb Will Return in September

Last year's 9/11 stair climb at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital might not have brought blood, but there was plenty of sweat and a few tears. The event was successful enough that a second annual stair climb is being planned this fall.

Local firefighter and emergency responder Jerrod Estes is again organizing the effort. In a Facebook post, Estes wrote, "We've been invited back to do the 110-floor climb, as those (New York City) firefighters during 9/11 experienced. Last year was an amazing and life-changing experience. We were cheered on by the entire (hospital) staff throughout the climb."

Estes encourages those who wish to participate to start training now. He said, "It's not about how many you do, it's hitting your breaking point and realizing those firefighters didn't have a choice and had to keep pushing."

Estes is asking those who wish to participate to contact him directly, as participants will be asked to be sponsored to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. He said NFFF has been notified and plans to cover the event via social media.

We shared live reports from last year's event and Wayne captured some great video, too.