Pella Firefighters Climb for All Who Suffer From Lung Disease

The Pella Fire Department started climbing in the Fight For Air Climb in honor of their chief’s wife who had a double lung transplant, but now they climb to honor all firefighters and family members who suffer from lung disease.

In March 2015, Pella Fire Department Chief Doug Van Gorkom’s wife, Susan, received a double lung transplant. While she was in Iowa City recovering, Chief Van Gorkom received a letter in the mail from a neighboring fire department challenging his department to compete in the Fight For Air Climb in Downtown Des Moines. When the chief asked his firefighters if anyone would be willing to climb in honor of his wife, he had four volunteers right away. Since then, the team has participated each year, and now is one of the top fundraising teams.

“It is important to me because of what happened to my wife and what we [all of the firefighters] have watched her go through,” said Chief Van Gorkom. “We also participate because we feel it is a good cause since firefighters can get lung cancer due to what they are exposed to on the job. There are firefighters dealing with lung cancer and lung disease because of that.”

For the Firefighter Challenge at the Fight For Air Climb in Downtown Des Moines, teams of four firefighters each climb one of the four buildings as a relay in full gear, which is an extra 50 – 75 pounds. They also compete for the highest fundraising team. This year for the 15^th anniversary of the event, the Pella Department has nine team members and a goal to raise $12,000 for the American Lung Association in Iowa. The Pella firefighters come together to host events to raise money, like a Pancake Breakfast held last October and a upcoming fundraiser at Pizza Ranch in Pella on March 19.

“We have had tremendous support from our local and surrounding communities,” said Chief Van Gorkom. “Our goal is to help other firefighters or family members who fight lung disease.”