Firefighters felt the heat in a different kind of way at this year’s ninth annual Firefighter Stair Climb Challenge as they maneuvered their way up the tallest skyscraper in downtown Calgary to raise funds for an Alberta-based charity.
On June 10, the annual fundraising event brought together hundreds of firefighters to raise awareness and money for an Alberta charity that supports those who live with cancer. The firefighters were tasked with ascending the 1,370 steps of the 57-storey Brookfield Place – the tallest tower in the city.
Firefighter Matthew McMullan of the Langdon Fire Station for the Rocky View Country Fire Services participated in the event for the third time this year, alongside three of his Langdon colleagues.
McMullan said the fundraiser is important personally because of people in his life who have battled and even succumbed to cancer.
“I've known lots of people that have had cancer [and] passed away from cancer, so it's nice to raise money in remembrance of them,” he said. “I've had a couple of fire buddies that have been battling with it so it's nice to give back in any way we can.”
Usually, the firefighters participating in the stairwell-climb don full personal protective equipment (PPE) during the challenge, including a self-contained breathing apparatus, a firefighters' helmet, boots, and fire-proof jacket and pants.
This year however, the firefighters decided to forgo wearing full PPE after recent revelations that fireproof jackets and pants are coated with polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are the chemicals that keep firefighters safe from fire. According to truthinscience.org, PFAS is a carcinogen that actually exposes firefighters to hazardous chemicals.
McMullan said it seemed ironic to be participating in a fundraising event for cancer while wearing equipment that could have cancer-causing particles on it.
“It seems kind of contradictory to be wearing that bunker gear that could potentially be covered in carcinogens and all those cancer-giving particulates,” he said.
The challenge of climbing the stairs and encouraging people to donate is part of the enjoyment, McMullan noted. He admitted he would have liked to have done some additional training in the lead-up to the event, but that he at least tried committing to doing weekly leg workouts.
“I like the challenge of trying to get people to donate and then trying to complete the task,” he said. “I don't think you're ever ready to climb 57 flights of stairs.”
The Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge has raised more than $2 million since the inaugural event 2015, according to its website. This year's iteration has raised more than $315,000 so far, though donations can continue to be made until the end of June.
To read more about this year's Firefighter Stair Climb Challenge or donate to the cause, visit calgarystairclimb.com
