Everett Firefighters Dedicate Stairclimb To One Of Their Own

The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb has been going on for 27 years. It is the world’s largest on-air stairclimb competition. The money raised through sponsorships, individual and department fundraising, and entry fees directly supports the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Again this year members of the Everett Fire Department will head to the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle to climb 69 flights of stairs and 1,300+ steps (788 feet of vertical elevation) to reach the observation deck overlooking the city. They do this in full bunker gear that alone weighs 50 pounds breathing through the air tank on their back. Some members of the Everett Fire Department have been doing this for more than two decades, others will make their first climb this year.

For one Everett Firefighter this will be his fourth year on the climb. But he’ll be doing it with new purpose. Captain Mike Lande will be climbing in honor of his teenage daughter, Emma. Recently Emma was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and has begun a treatment program at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. In fellowship, all 54 members of the Everett Fire Department Firefighter Stairclimb Team have formed “Team Emma” to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year the Everett Firefighters Team raided $57,000.00. Their fundraising goal this year is $60,000.00 by March 11th.

Individual Firefighters are raising pledges for their climb while collectively they have also been holding events. A couple of weeks ago firefighters and their families were in front of the Costco on 19th Ave SE collecting money and raising awareness. That’s going to happen again on Saturday March 3rd from 10 AM – 2 PM. Look for Everett Firefighters and their family members with boots in hand at the entrances and exits to Costco at 102nd SE and 19th Ave. SE.

If you’d like to donate in person you can stop by and put some bucks in the boot while they are out there on March 3rd or if you’d like to help right now you can donate online here at Captain Lande’s page or the Everett Firefighter’s Team page.