Participants Needed for 9/11 Stair Climb at Expo

June 27, 2011
WANTED: Participants for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb to be held in conjunction with Firehouse Expo in Baltimore.More InformationAs of Monday, only 93 people had registered to participate in the climb set for Thursday, July 21 at the Hilton Baltimore, according to Billy Hinton, who is coordinating the event for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

WANTED: Participants for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb to be held in conjunction with Firehouse Expo in Baltimore.

More Information

As of Monday, only 93 people had registered to participate in the climb set for Thursday, July 21 at the Hilton Baltimore, according to Billy Hinton, who is coordinating the event for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

"We are in desperate need of climbers," he said, adding that the goal is 343.

The event honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who perished while climbing the 110 stories of the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 to evacuate occupants.

The participants don't have to be firefighters, Hinton added. "And, you don't have to climb all 110 stories. We certainly don't want anyone to fall out..."

Each climber wears the photograph of a fallen FDNY firefighter on a lanyard around their neck.

"You can register and participate without climbing. We have many people who pay the $25 registration fee. The photograph of their firefighter is carried by someone actually doing the event," he explained.

All the money goes to the NFFF programs to assist the survivors of FDNY firefighters including those whose loved ones suffered life-threatening illnesses after their work at Ground Zero.

Hinton said firefighters can wear whatever is comfortable. "They can wear turnout gear or shorts and jogging shoes," he said. "We just ask them not to bring SCBAs."

Firehouse Expo set for July 19-23 is honoring the first responders who shined on 9/11.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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