Oakbrook Terrace Tower race battles lung disease

Addison police officer Michael Wadsworth says he understands the reasons some people do not exactly hold high opinions of those in his profession. Most often, he says, they interact only on days that can be memorable for the wrong reasons.

“When most people see police work, they see the negatives,” he said. “People don’t really call police unless it’s the worst day of your life, so we’re always seen in a negative light.”

However, Wadsworth said he hopes his department’s fundraising efforts for an upcoming American Lung Association event help change that perception.

“People don’t think we’re helping them because most of the time we see them is when we are stopping or arresting them,” said the nine-year veteran of the force. “But we’re raising a lot of money and coming together as one group.”

The Fight for Air Climb up Oakbrook Terrace Tower’s 31 floors begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, when elite climbers — followed by hundreds of other participants — take the first of the 680 steps at 1 Tower Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, just southeast of the intersection of Butterfield and Roosevelt roads.

Participants can register by phone through Friday, Feb.11, or at the event.

The lung disease awareness and fundraising event promotes itself as the first tower climb in Illinois, having launched in the 1980s. After a brief hiatus, the event is celebrating its 10th consecutive year.

Special Events Manager Erin Petschow said officials expect about 650 climbers, which would top last year’s number by about 200.

“What I am seeing is people embracing the Fight for Air,” Petschow said. “They are able to do something for some people who are not able to do it because of lung disease.”

In his first attempt at the climb four years ago, Wadsworth said he underestimated how difficult of a climb he had. He took off quickly but then was gasping for air halfway up as other climbers passed him.

He said he will not make the same mistake this time and has warned teammates against it as well. The team has a wide range of participants ready to compete.

“We have the extremes,” he said. “We have people who have run marathons and then the people who will take the elevator over the stairs any day.”

The 22-member team includes 18 police department personnel, a firefighter, a registered nurse and two school teachers.

Wadsworth said he has been training for about three months and can see noticeable gains in his fitness level. He attends a weekly boot camp at the tower each weekend.

“The first couple of times, it was ridiculous,” he said. “But it’s been getting better. We are going to have a pretty competitive team.”

The team has thus far raised $3,500, the most of any team in the climb. Wadsworth said the goal has been $5,000.

He hopes that total goes a long way toward showing residents the department’s efforts can have a positive effect.

“We hope people hear that the police department is doing this and look into it and see that we are trying to set a good example to the community,” he said. “This has brought a lot of camaraderie to this department.”

If you go

What: Fight for Air Climb

When: 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, for elite climbers, with other participants starting at about 9 a.m.

Where: Oakbrook Terrace Tower, 1 Tower Lane, Oakbrook Terrace

Register: (312) 781-1100 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 11; or at the event

Cost: $25 registration fee plus a minimum donation of $75 to climb once or $100 to climb multiple times

Info: <a href="http://FightforAirClimb.org">FightforAirClimb.org</a>