OC To Host Memorial Stair Climb This Month

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OCEAN CITY – The first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will take place in Ocean City this month to remember the 343 firefighters that sacrificed their lives that day and to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
The inaugural Ocean City 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, hosted by the Delmarva Emerald Society (DES), will take place at the Pyramid Condominium on 95th Street on Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 8:30 a.m.
According to James Jester, president of DES, the event is a tribute to the firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001. Participants will climb the equivalent number of stories, 110, of the World Trade Center Twin Towers while carrying a picture of one of the fallen firefighters as an honorarium.
The Pyramid is 22 stories high and participants are expected to climb the stories of the building five times to equal the height of the World Trade Centers.
“The card you are carrying is the spirit of that brother, of that firefighter that died, and because he was unable to complete that climb you are expected to complete it for him in his memory,” Jester said.
The Stair Climb is a public event and is open to anyone, including civilians, EMS, firefighters, law enforcement and the military.
“We encourage community participation by joining us as a climber, volunteer, or donor,” Jester said. “We are shooting for the stars and are hoping to have all 343 spots filled.”
The first stair climb held to support the mission of the NFFF was held on Sept. 11, 2005 when five Colorado firefighters convened at a high-rise building in downtown Denver to climb 110 flights of stairs in memory of their FDNY brothers.
The following year, 12 firefighters participated, representing departments from the metro Denver area. Each subsequent year attendance grew until it was capped at 343 participants in 2008.
Since its beginning, the Denver 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb has evolved into a much anticipated annual event and generated interest from individuals across the country who hoped to adapt the format and host an event in their cities.
In 2010, the original Denver team partnered with the NFFF to create a template that would enable a coordinator to successfully replicate a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb anywhere in the U.S.
To register for the local climb, visit www.9-11stairclimb.com. It is $25 to register and all fees and fundraising will be donated to NFFF.