I am participating in the Calgary Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge on May 5th 2019.

We'll see how much work it is to get to the TOP.... 55 stories... 775 vertical feet ...1204 steps.... of the Encana (Bow) building. In firefighter duty gear - 5# helmet, 5# boots, 25# air bottle and harness, 5# coat, 5# pants - in a hot stair with the sun streaming in. I have been told that the last six floors is HOT.

I have been climbing the lower set of stairs at Battalion Park to build up my legs and lungs where there are 120 steps. Last May 2018 I started training with a coat and boots. In hot July I worked up to 8 cycles with 16 kg (35#) on my back & coat & fire boots = 45 minutes (960 steps). More work needed. I must try harder. On 12th & 13th January 2019 I was on the 120 stairs without gear and did 10 cycles ( 1200 steps) in 45 minutes each and was maxed out, without the 45# of gear. That was hard. And more work to come!  Ugh. 

Recent training has been Sunday 14th April with 10 cycles in 1 hour 15 minutes in full firefighter gear and pack to simiulate the air bottle and harness. This is too long. On Good Friday with all the gear including an air bottle I was down to 47 minutes.  "Show Time" in 2 weeks. 

Here is the link to my FD team page:     http://give.wellspringcalgary.ca/goto/YYCFDPensioners

All of us know of persons who have died from cancer without known cause: my oldest sister Dianne; aunts Ruth, Mary; cousins Sharon, Brenda; friends Mick, Rob; firefighters George, Terry. Then there are the survivors of cancer we know.

Join me on my "Team to the Top".

For those who can and will donate, Thank You Team for your financial support.
Mark Soehner     
Calgary FD 1979 - 2006   - Lieutenant retired