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Hundreds Put Lungs and Legs to the Test and Climb for Clean Air
Vancouver, BC – February 18, 2008 – Climbing to the top: Participants’ lungs and legs hurt just thinking about it, but despite any pre-event jitters, hundreds turned up in support of the BC Lung Association’s Climb the Wall: the Stairclimb for Clean Air this past Sunday in downtown Vancouver.
It’s not a traditional road race or even a triathlon; it’s a stairclimb to the top of one of BC’s tallest buildings, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel.
Topping the results this year was Ynuk Bosse, who finished in 4:39 (4 seconds and 39 seconds), placing first overall, and Dina Karamboulos, who at 6:25, was the fastest female stairclimber.
“Once I reached the top of the 48 storey stairwell, my lungs were burning and my heart was pounding. It felt great! ” said Karamboulos who showed up in support of lung health and clean air on the advice of a friend who participated last year, and again this year.
While the event attracts competitive stair climbers out to set personal bests, as well as a large contingent of BC firefighters who come out every year, an equal number of stairclimb participants are simply stepping up in the name of fun, good health and a worthy cause.
For Chad McFadyen, a “Climb” veteran, “Nothing comes close to stair climbing as an aerobic activity – but I’m not doing it to win. I like coming out to support a good cause, and to meet with others who are getting involved with their community. This particular event is really well organized!”
BC Lung Association Event Coordinator, Jessa Blades, can’t say enough about the dedication and commitment demonstrated by participants. “We had a terrific mix of people young and old,” she said. “We had firefighters and top-ranked athletes; people directly impacted by lung disease, people looking for fun and community involvement – all uniting in support of lung health and clean air.”
The event played out against a backdrop of rising concern for the lung health of British Columbians. “Not a day goes by when we do not think about people affected by lung disease: the child with breathing problems, the worker losing lung function because of inhaling dust and fumes on the job, or the grandmother crippled by lung disease caused by a past smoking habit,” said Scott McDonald, Executive Director of the British Columbia Lung Association.
Chronic lung disease is the fastest growing cause of hospitalisation, disability, and death in Canada today. And never before has the body of evidence linking air pollution to respiratory illness been so great, nor the public been so keenly aware of the interdependence between our environment and our health.
So far the Stairclimb for Clean Air event has raised more than $125,000 but fundraising post event will continue until March 14, 2008. All event proceeds go towards vital lung health and air quality research, programs and initiatives.
To make a donation call visit stairclimb.ca or call the BC Lung Association at 604.731.LUNG (5864)
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For more information, please contact:
Katrina van Bylandt
Communications Manager
The B.C. Lung Association
(604) 731-5864
vanbylandt@bc.lung.ca