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Hundreds in Training to Stair Climb to the Top of the Sheraton Wall Centre
Vancouver, BC – January 9, 2007 –Climb the Wall 2007: Vancouver’s sixth annual stair climb to the top of the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel is six weeks away. Organized by the BC Lung Association, the 491-foot, 48-storey hike up the tallest staircase in town is a fundraiser for important lung health and air-quality initiatives.
The fundraiser takes place Sunday, February 18, 2007 and will mark the fifth time the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel plays host. In 2006, more than 400 participants scaled the highrise at an average ‘climb time’ of just under 10 minutes.
Jessa Blades, Special Events Coordinator for the BC Lung Association says for those who rise to the challenge, the event provides healthy motivation to skip the elevator and take the stairs, “If more of us used our feet instead of the elevator or cars to make short trips, it would not only help to burn off extra weight, but would keep pounds of pollutants out of the air -- and that’s good for everyone’s health.”
Blades emphasizes that stair climbers of all abilities are welcome and encourages new stair climbers to sign up, “Join hundreds of others who will be stair climbing to get fit while participating in the quest for clean air. Make the Stairclimb for Clean Air your New Year’s resolution!”
Stair climbers from all across the province regularly participate in the event – including a close to 100 BC firefighters and a large contingent of health medical and wellness community members.
“These stair climbs really are critical to our success,” says Jessa Blades, Special Events Coordinator for the BC Lung Association. “Every one of them makes a difference – giving our clean air and lung health mission an extra push.”
All proceeds from Climb The Wall funds go toward lung health and air quality-related educational programs, vital medical research and patient support activities throughout British Columbia.
To register for the event call the BC Lung Association at 604.731.LUNG (5864) or toll free at 1.800.665.5864 or sign up online at www.bc.lung.ca.
Note: Climb participants are asked to raise a minimum of $100. In return each stair climber receives an event t-shirt, an elaborate post-stair climb Sunday brunch compliments of the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, a goodie bag and the chance to win amazing prizes, including a ‘Trip for Two to Sunny California’.
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For Information:
Danica Wolfe
Communications/Media Relations
wolfe@bc.lung.ca
(604) 731-5864 Ext. 237
Jessa Blades
Special Events Coordinator
604-731-5864 or 1-800-665-5864
blades@bc.lung.ca