Every year more than 200 firefighters from around the country travel to Portland, Oregon, to participate in the city's Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge. This year, the event took place on Sept. 27, and the firefighters who were involved used the challenge as an opportunity to raise money for cystic fibrosis patients.
The firefighters who accept the challenge are not just climbing stairs, though. According to Fox 12 Oregon, they will be climbing 40 flights of the U.S. Bancorp Tower in full gear.
"It's one of those psychological races," Gresham firefighter Jeremy Forrest told KOIN 6 News. "It's mind numbing because you're going in circles and straight up."
Many of the spectators are in support of the firefighters cause as they have family members or friends who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and the participants themselves are happy to help their community in any way they can.
Last year alone, the Portland Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge rose $190,000. KOIN 6 News reported that the event has raised almost $1 million since retired Portland firefighter Wes Loucks started it in 2008. Loucks' grandsons had cystic fibrosis, and he is committed to finding a cure.