Kalamazoo 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

Honor the 9-11 heroes at Wings Event Center on September 11.

• What: Kalamazoo 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb
• When: Friday, September 11. Registration 7:30 a.m. Climb begins at 9
• Where: Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr., Kalamazoo
• How Much: $35 includes a free t-shirt if you sign up by 8/31

The 2015 Kalamazoo 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the 343 FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live on 9-11-2001.

Each participant pays tribute to an FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Each individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice of a brave firefighter, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others.

I was a part of the event for the first time last year and I can tell you it is a meaningful experience. The atmosphere inside Wings Event Center was somber as news reports from 2001 played on the big screen with audio from dispatchers and emergency personnel echoing throughout the arena. Climbers also carry the ID tags of fallen heroes to remember their sacrifice.

Funds raised go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and each climber has a goal of $110. You can show your support and contribute by making you tax-deductable donation on my personal page or sign up yourself or put together a team.