Climbing for a cause: Hundreds do the Fight for Air Climb
Some climbed for their own health. Others climbed to support a loved one.
Whatever the motivation, roughly 750 people from the city and suburbs congregated at the Oakbrook Terrace Tower on Sunday for the American Lung Association’s annual Fight for Air Climb.
Participants climbed the 31 flights of stairs in the office building either once, twice or three times. New this year was the opening “Power Hour,” in which particularly adventurous climbers saw how many times they could climb all the stairs in one hour.
“I heard that someone climbed the stairs 12 times,” ALA spokeswoman Katie Lorenz said. “We’re delighted with the response that this entire event has generated.” The ALA set a fundraising goal of $144,000 for Sunday’s climb. Lorenz said all signs pointed to the agency exceeding that goal.
The participants included people of all ages and fitness levels. Some climbers sprinted their way up, while others took it slow and steady. As usual, a number of suburban fire departments sent teams of climbers to the event. Orland Park resident Linda Sapit said she decided to participate in the climb to support her mother, who’s battling a lung-related disease.
“Seeing me do this will really perk her up,” Sapit said. “I’m a little nervous, though, because I haven’t done a climb this big before.”
Todd Obmascik of Bolingbrook climbed the tower with his 10-year-old son, Mason.
It was the elder Obmascik’s third time completing the Fight for Air Climb.
“My wife is a smoker, and she’s had trouble quitting,” he said. “I figured I should do what I can to support the American Lung Association, which helps people avoid that situation.”
Sunday was Mason Obmascik’s first time participating in the event. When asked if the climb was difficult, he smiled and shook his head.
“It wasn’t bad,” he said.
Mary Scalzetti was part of a team of climbers from the village of Downers Grove. She said the team members, all of them village employees, trained by climbing the stairs in their five-story parking garage.
“This was just a case of all of us signing up to help a good cause,” she said.
The ALA holds two Fight for Air Climb events in the Chicago area each year. The next one will take place on March 11 at the Presidential Towers in Chicago. Go to FightForAirClimb.org for more information.