Firefighters from Okotoks and Diamond Valley walked thousands of steps at Calgary’s tallest skyscraper to raise money for cancer support.
The 10th annual Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge was held on June 9 at Brookfield Place, with teams from Diamond Valley and Okotoks making the climb in modified firefighting gear.
Diamond Valley Fire Rescue Capt. Andrew Draper and Okotoks Fire & Rescue firefighter Ryan Kaiser have been at every stairclimb since the first in 2015, said the event website.
“I’ve always been a challenge-driven person, so it was the challenge that drew me in and has kept me going all these years,” Draper said.
Draper said he’s adopted a different approach to preparing for the event in recent years, and no longer does any extra training.
“I now challenge myself to do it ‘as I stand,’" he said. “I tell myself that if I can do it coming off the street, that means I’m in good enough shape to keep doing my job.”
Cancer is a leading occupational hazard that firefighters face, and Kaiser said he’ll complete the stairclimb every year he’s able to.
“People need to know that they are not going through cancer alone,” Kaiser said.
He said he’s been inspired by a young girl from Okotoks who is living with cancer.
“She just around 12 this year, the same age as my boy, so it hits close to home,” he said. “It’s very motivating to climb in her name.”
During the stairclimb, firefighters from around the world climb all 1,370 stairs in the 57 storey tall building to raise money for Wellspring Alberta, a non-profit cancer support organization that provides care for people faced with cancer.
From Diamond Valley Fire Rescue (DVFR), firefighters Stephen Chaisson, Andy Scott, Christina Meikle and Andrew Draper took part in the climb.
Diamond Valley firefighters Andrew Madarasz, Courtney Scott and Alanna Richards represented the Calgary Fire Department as they work with both organizations.
The Okotoks Fire & Rescue team consisted of Ryan Kaiser, Justin Hubbard, Lisa Barton, Amanda Mason-Espin, Tim Houghton, Joshua Barry and Travis Avramovic.
