Registration for the 2013 climb will open on July 1 at 0800 MST. A link will be posted here at that time. Last year, the climb filled in just about 60 minutes, so plan on being available at that time if you would like a spot. We thank you for all of your support, and look forward to climbing with you on Sept 11.

We have had an absolutely amazing run at 1801 California for ever single climb that we have done after the first one. This year, we are pleased to announce that our great relationship with the building will continue through a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management; the buildings new management group. When you see one of them on the morning of the climb, take a minute to thank them for their support, and tell them what the event means to you. We are honored to be able to work hand-in-hand with them to continue our outstanding stair climb tradition.

Check 'em out. Great ways to keep the firefighter that you climb for this year, or the firefighters that you have climbed for in the past with you year round. This company is owned by a firefighter and he is also the founder/organizer of the KC Stair Climb.

http://www.bandsforbrothers.com/store#!__store/343

Registration for the 2012 event will open on July 1 at 0800 Mountain Standard Time. Make sure that you check here for the link, as we are anticipating the event will fill very fast. Last year, we filled the spots in 66 minutes.....this year.....under 30? Let's make it happen!

A couple of us just completed a NFFF 9/11 Stair Climb Steering Committee meeting in New York City where we wrapped up the 2011 events, and started the planning for the 2012 events. We had the unique opportunity to stay at Ground Zero, as well as to have the FDNY host the meeting at their training academy. While there, we also completed a 110 story stair climb with the rest of the committee members, as well as a few others, in our hotel at the World Trade Center site. The whole trip was a truly emotional and extremely humbling experience.

The climb program for 2011 had some great successes! We were able to have more than 60 climbs happening all around the world with more than 10,000 participants (the vast majority of which were firefighters). Not only has this served as an incredible remembrance for the participants and organizers, but also a huge training opportunity and a motivating factor for better physical fitness.

The stair climb events were able to raise a net of $200,000 in 2011 and the NFFF presented a check to Commissioner Sal Cassano of the FDNY on Monday night for that amount. The Commissioner said that the money raised by the stair climb events will be used to keep their Counseling Unit funded and working for another full year. Without this money from the climbs, the unit would have been shut down. The Counseling Unit is comprised of active and retired FDNY members, as well as professionals, that administer peer-to-peer counseling, child counseling, and family/spouse counseling for the FDNY members. They told us that through this unit, suicide and divorce rates post 9/11 have been dramatically lower than what they initially anticipated; and that by funding the unit for another year, these important programs will continue. Commissioner Cassano came to our meeting and spent some time with us giving his thoughts and appreciation for the program. To quote the Commissioner, "With the money that you have given us, you are saving lives and families with your work."

Read that last sentence again. That's right, you are making a huge appreciable difference in the lives of the surviving FDNY members and families through your participation in the stair climb in Denver. We are proud and honored to do this with you! See you all very soon....