Climb...Conquer...Cure

This past weekend, my hubby participated in the 24th Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.  He climbed 69 flights of stairs...that's 1,311 steps...all to support the mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  This was his 3rd year participating as a climber and he did an awesome job!!!  Not only are they climbing all those stairs, but they are doing it in FULL firefighter gear, including their 60+ air tanks...NOT an easy task!

 

These kiddos touched my heart in a big way and I just had to document this part of my day...I used this weeks MDS Monday sketch to help get me started.  Be sure to check out all of the great design team creations, as well as all of the other participants...there are some awesome MDS skills there!!!

 

I had the great honor of volunteering at the event this year and I can not WAIT to go back next year.  I spent my morning checking in participants, other volunteers and honorees.  It was heartwarming to meet the honorees and their families, especially the sweet babies in this picture.  The two older children are cousins who were diagnosed with leukemia within weeks of each other, but battled the disease and were honored in a BIG way at the climb!  The family was overwhelmed with the special treatment they got throughout the day and the smiles on the faces of those babies made me realize what this event was really about. 

 

I got to spend the second half of my day at the top of the building helping firefighters remove their gear at the finish line...not as glorious as it sounds ladies!  I was covered from head to toe in sweat from hundreds of firefighers...pretty gross, but still an amazing opportunity.  All of the honorees of the event were also able to come up to the top floor to watch the firefighters cross the finish line.  Even though these firefighters were beyond exhausted from climbing all those stairs, nearly all of them made it a point to go and visit with the honorees...it still makes me tear up just thinking about it.

 

I left the tower at the end of the day with a full heart, feeling very blessed.  This is an amazing event and my hubby and I are both so proud to have had the chance to be a part of it and look forward to many more years to come!