McCall, Idaho-based Courageous Kids Climbing announced today that they were entering into a partnership with Boise, Idaho fire apparatus manufacturer Boise Mobile Equipment (BME). BME will be sponsoring the first ever first responder climbing competition to be held in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, June 12 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm (MST) at The Commons Climbing Gym. The event is a fundraiser for Courageous Kids Climbing.
Courageous Kids Climbing is a nonprofit that provides free opportunities for children between the ages of 3-months and 103-years with special needs, physical or developmental, to experience the various forms of rock climbing at events held in Idaho, Washington, California, Nevada and Arizona. Their IceClimbers program provides free opportunities for people with special needs to experience ice-skating. Climbing On Stuff is a program that provides children who are blind with the opportunity to look at something like a fighter jet or army helicopter with their hands. Since 2014, the organization has conducted over 70 events with over 750 participants.
First responders support the climbing events and take the opportunity to enhance their skills for working with people with special needs while lessening the fear of people in uniform that any of the participants may have. First responders with rope rescue skills set up a haul system to share the climbing experience with those participants who have physical challenges.
Event Coordinator Jeff Riechmann of Courageous Kids Climbing said, “We are very excited to have Boise Mobile Equipment join our event as a sponsor! First responders have played a huge role in our events in the past, so a climbing competition seemed like a natural progression. First responders have the opportunity to demonstrate their rope rescue skills while helping to raise some funds for Courageous Kids Climbing. Fire apparatus manufactured by Boise Mobile Equipment meet or exceed the high standards of the American fire service. It is our hope to mirror those high standards during our first responder climbing competition.”
First responders – full-time, reserve, volunteer or retired – who are interested in participating in the climbing competition should contact Riechmann at [email protected].
