More than 500 people register for annual ‘Fight for Air’ climb

Published: May. 22, 2022 at 9:55 AM EDT|Updated: May. 22, 2022 at 2:54 PM EDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

CINCINNATI (WXIX) -At least 500 participants climbed the stairs at the Great American Ballpark for the annual American Lung Association Ohio chapter’s ‘Fight for Air’ Climb fundraiser Sunday.

Runners, walkers, and firefighters climbed the stadium stairs to raise money for the fight against lung disease, lung cancer, and COVID-19.

“Full of emotion, we have lots of previous climbers. We have double lung transplant survivors, so when people tell me they can’t climb, I tell them they absolutely can. It’s for all levels,” American Lung Association Executive Director Laura Metzler said.

Organizers say that of those who registered for the event, 150 of those were firefighters.

According to organizers, it started with the power hour, where participants climbed the stadium in one hour as many times as possible.

In between that climb and the stadium climb, which is about 843 steps, firefighters and first responders made their way up and down stadium’s Upper Bowl. The upper bowl is 1,250 steps.

“Doing it with my son means a lot to me just being along with him and being along with my coworkers,” Tim Reder said.

First climber Katie Locasto represented the Delhi Township Fire Department.

“I feel super fulfilled. It’s for a great cause. I get to work out and get to do it in my full gear,” Locasto said.

The weight of the gear is about 50 to 70 pounds, making it harder to climb up and down the steps.

“I know there’s a lot of people with lung problems, so it means a lot to raise money and try to support them,” Locasto said.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please include the title when you click here to report it.

Copyright 2022 WXIX. All rights reserved.