This year for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, the Enumclaw Fire Department raised $10,177.10  for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and, once again, helping cancer patients.

They began in November with fundraising and training for the 1,311 steps and 69 flights in full firefighter turn out gear. The annual event at the Columbia tower in Seattle brings as many as 291

Fire Departments and 1,550 firefighters to climb – not an easy feat for the fittest athlete.

This year’s EFD team captain Maryn Otto said, “Being a part of Enumclaw Fire Department is fantastic. Working together with 1,550 other firefighters that are selflessly helping cancer patients goes beyond words to explain. It’s moving. Especially when you show up at the Columbia

Tower the morning of the climb and see the mass amount of firefighters that have donated their time and efforts and have come together all with a common goal – to eradicate blood cancers. Now, that is something to have a little pride in.”

Many off duty hours and efforts were put into supporting a cause that they all can call personal. Blood cancer touches the lives of nearly everyone in the community in some form or other. It’s a cause that keeps them coming back with greater goals each year.

“We won’t stop as long as there is a need to keep climbing.” Otto said.

In a release the fire department wrote, “a generous “thank you” to the community of Enumclaw, friends, family, and co-workers for being the heroes to many cancer patients. They couldn’t have done it without you.