Travelers Rest firefighters set to defend 'Fight for Air Climb' title

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Travelers Rest firefighters will again this year represent the department in the Upstate Fight for Air Climb, an annual event that raises money and awareness of lung-related illnesses and disease.

Firefighters Hunter Ward, Jamie Richards, Brad Kuykendall and Jamar Talley will each run up hundreds of steps at The Landmark Building in downtown Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 20 in a timed competition hosted by the American Lung Association.

Sometimes called a "vertical road race", the team will join firefighters from across the state in the Firefighter Challenge, wearing their full firefighting gear in the one-of-a-kind fundraising event.

In 2013, the department took home the coveted winner's plaque, their second time in three years. It's hanging on the station wall, but they'll need to win later this month to keep it there another year.

As part of the event, competing climbers are collecting donations for the American Lung Association. In addition to their entry fee, each must each raise a minimum of $100 to be eligible to participate in the challenge.

To make a donation to Travelers Rest team members (or to the team, collectively) visit the Fight for Air Climb website here.

Travelers Rest firefighter and building codes official David Odom, who served as the team captain in 2013, is taking part in the 2014 climb as well. Diagnosed with stage 3 brain cancer in January of 2013, he will be competing without gear and as a solo participant. You can donate to David's Fight for Air Climb page here.

(Photo courtesy of April Harris.)