Neighbor News
Charity Stair Climb for American Lung Association June 19
Ten Simsbury Volunteer Fire and Auxiliary Members to Compete in Charity Stair Climb at Dunkin Donuts Park.
The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company and Auxiliary are fielding a team of 10 members this year to compete in the 2021 Fight for Air Climb, a fundraiser for the American Lung Association.
Firefighters compete in NFPA compliant structural firefighting gear, which means climbing with the weight of full firefighting gear, including boots, helmets and breathing apparatus.
Steve Petrella is climbing this year in memory of his Mom, Jan. In 2019, while fighting pulmonary fibrosis, she was able to attend the stair climb to watch her son compete.
Find out what's happening in Simsburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Team captain Rick Callahan is climbing “for my Mother, because the American Lung Association was a favorite charity of hers. She passed away from complications of COPD and emphysema.”
Climbers this year are Rick Callahan, Donna Anderson, Nick Boswell, Ken Boudreau, Eli Brenner, Todd Kelley, Ryan Long, Steven Petrella, Brian Tomaska and Gianni Zunino.
Find out what's happening in Simsburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Boudreau is the veteran on the team; this is his 14th climb in Hartford. In 2019, he competed for the Simsbury Fire team and a second time for the Simsbury Emergency Services team. He has also completed other stair climbs, including the Boston Fight for Air Climb. Held at One Boston Place, it is 41 flights of stairs.
This is Kelley’s fourth Hartford stair climb and he has competed at the Firehouse Expo and the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference.
The team Simsbury Fire has a fundraising page at the Fight for Air Climb website, https://action.lung.org/site/TR/Climb/ALANE_Northeast?team_id=161685&pg=team&fr_id=21761.
In past years the Hartford stair climb was held in one of Connecticut’s tallest buildings, Hartford 21. This year it will be outdoors at Dunkin Donuts Park on June 19; 636 steps throughout the stadium seating. The step count includes both climbing up and descending down the stadium steps.
For safety, masks will be required, competitors will stay 6’ apart, and complete a health screening before climbing.
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working on improving lung health and preventing lung disease, according to its website. Founded in 1904 to combat tuberculosis, they are the oldest voluntary health organization.