Even if you can’t be in Washington or are unable to climb, you can sign up and someone will carry the name of one of the 343 FDNY firefighters killed on 9-11 for you.
Again, listen to Brian’s talk below to find out why your $25 donation is so important.
My friend Brian Brush took to the stage last night at Stop, Drop, Rock ‘n’ Roll reminding his fellow firefighters why they should participate in a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb. This is well worth listening to. The climb is today in Indy at Lucas Oil Stadium. You can still register online here. Check-in is between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM with the climb at 1:00 PM.
Mike Brooks is a friend of 30-years who went from being a DC cop and volunteer firefighter in Northern Virginia to TV news. He is a regular on cable’s HLN and, as many of you know, is a big supporter of public safety. This is a video of a recent salute to firefighters from Mike that includes a visit with Rescue Squad 4 in Atlanta.
Like me, Mike is in Indianapolis for FDIC. Mike tells me that on Friday he will be shooting the NFFF 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb for FDIC. Just another reason, if you are here, you should sign up to climb. Click here to register. Hope to see you there.
The video above is from last year’s 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at FDIC. I had been on a committee at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation helping plan for the 2011 climbs and I am not sure I truly got it from our meetings and conference calls. It was only after seeing it up close, as I was shooting video for NFFF of the climbers at Lucas Oil Stadium, did I realize what an important and emotional event these climbs are and saw how it’s a wonderful way to remember the sacrifice of 343 firefighters.
But the real impact for me came in December. That’s when I witnessed the firefighters who came up with the idea of the climbs meeting with FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano. It’s not often that you are involved in a charitable event and get to clearly hear how it has helped those it was supposed to help. Commissioner Cassano said the people who climbed in 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs in 2011 raised enough money to save FDNY Counseling Services Unit programs that were headed for the chopping block due to budget cuts. The fire service should be proud of how they helped their FDNY brothers and the survivors of the fallen.
The event on Friday kicks off the 2012 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs. Because we have passed the tenth anniversary, September 11th will not be in the eye of the public in the same way it was last year. But we know the firefighters will not forget.
So please join us on Friday. I will be the one with the camera near me asking you all the stupid reporter questions will you are huffing and puffing. It’s perfectly okay to tell me to get lost.
Here’s the link to register. There are only 343 slots available. Each climber will carry a picture of one of the 343 and receive a t-shirt. The cost is $25.
To loosen up before the big climb, I’d love to see you Thursday night at Stop, Drop, Rock and Roll at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 West Washington Street from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. Besides good music and good food (the food was excellent last year), there is a great auction of fire service and other merchandise. The proceeds benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Check out the video below from last year and you will get the idea. Click here to get your tickets online.
Then watch the video below with my friend Brian Brush explaining why firefighters climb these 110 flights.
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