Firefighters and first responders, teams from area corporations, and all who like challenges that test mental, physical and psychological strength will converge on the Bellevue Towers on October 23 for the inaugural running of the Fight for Air Climb: Bellevue Towers to support the American Lung Association in Washington.

This stairclimb event will have three divisions where participants will choose their own challenge to conquer: 45, 91, or a world-record breaking 182 stories of stairs.

The Fight for Air Climb: Bellevue Towers is the first major fundraising event dedicated to the Bellevue/Eastside community produced by a national non-profit organization. Eastside resident Rich Martinez will chair the volunteer leadership committee. Partnerships have been established with the Medina Police Department; Alaska Airlines, lululemon athletica, X-Gym; 425 Magazine; Cisco Bellevue; the Downtown Bellevue Network and Rock Bottom Brewery.

The event day will be begin at 8 a.m. with individual climbers and teams having staggered start times based upon respective divisions and heats. Vendor booths, informational tables and pre-climb stretching will be set-up in the lowest level of the Bellevue Towers garage that will double as the staging area for the event.

Individual and team registration is now open online at www.climbbellevue.com. Notable teams that have already registered include: Team Graham Fire & Rescue led by 12-time winner of the Big Climb – Georgia Sanz Daniels; Team DCFD (from Washington, D.C.); Team Irmo Fire HIT (from Irmo, SC); Team Victorious Secret led by Leona Romar, wife of the UW Men’s Basketball coach. Corporate teams from Cisco Bellevue, Eddie Bauer, and Expedia have also stepped up to the challenge.

In addition to the teams, the following international ranked individuals will also be participating: Jesse Berg (3rd), Tim Van Orden (17th), Kevin Crossman (21st), Terry Purcell (26th), Braden Renshaw (27th), Mark Trahanovsky (28th), PJ Glassey (47th), John Osborn (48th), Brian Crossman (56th), and Kristin Frey (Women’s 6th).

Registration is limited to the first 1,000 who sign up. Each participant pays a $50 registration fee and fundraises or donates/raises a minimum of $250. Complete event details are available on the website or by contacting Event Director Brent Ruth at 206-441-5100 ext 36 or bruth@alaw.org.