The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Firefighter Stairclimb is the world's largest on-air stair climb competition. Open only to career, volunteer, or retired firefighters, this event features over 2,000 members of the fire service who must register, commit to raising a minimum of $300/person for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and then ascend the tallest building in Seattle on event day.
It takes 69 flights, 1,356 steps, and 788 ft. vertical elevation gain to reach the highly acclaimed Sky View Observatory on the 73rd floor. The entirety of the course must be completed while wearing full turnout gear (typically weighing 60+ lbs.), while on-air.
This physically challenging competition is representative of the struggle that blood cancer patients endure. Every step to the top serves as a reminder that there is still much work left to be done in funding and finding cures.
Since the first LLS Firefighter Stairclimb in 1991, this event has raised over $20 million for LLS.