PGFD 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb/5K Run-Walk was a Huge Success

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO

For the fifth time in as many years the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department hosted a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb and 5K Walk/Run to honor the 343 Line-of-Duty Deaths that occurred in New York and to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The Foundation honors firefighters line of duty deaths, provides support to the survivors as well as offering programs to prevent firefighter deaths.

The 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs are not timed race events, but a way for firefighters and the community to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live. Each participant pays tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing or walking the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice of an FDNY brother, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through firefighter and community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters is honored and that the world knows that we will never forget. The proceeds of these events help the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation create and maintain programs that support fire service survivors. Your support of the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb events provides assistance to the surviving families and co-workers of the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.

On Saturday, September 12, 2015, despite some rain, hundreds of climbers/walkers showed up by 8:00 am to share in the opening ceremonies and begin their climb or walk at around 8:46 am. The Department was honored to have Hillary Howard (WTOP and It’s Academic) and her husband Dave Statter (Statter911.com) serve as the Master of Ceremonies once again for this year’s event. The event was held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention at the National Harbor in Prince George’s County. Gaylord Resort provided a lunch to workers and participants as well as going above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate everyone due to the rainy weather.

There were a total of 540 registered climbers and walkers. 498 utilized the on-line registration and 42 signed up on the morning of the event. The number of participants showed an increase of 110 compared to 2014 event. Funds generated from registration were $35,992. Add in another $25,000 generated from fill the boot drives, 50/50 raffle, sponsorships and on-line donations our gross total was around $61,000. An increase of $27,000 raised in 2014. Of particular note is the current firefighter recruit school class that raised over $12,000 in donations by themselves.

Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor stated, “Our combined efforts and hard work has honored the fallen firefighters of 9-11 and benefited the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. I commend and thank everyone involved and have already started planning next years event.”

There are numerous 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb events that are held across the Country every year. Based on the amount of funds raised for the NFFF the Prince George’s County event will place within the top three events, perhaps even the #1 spot, of the year.

The Department was honored to have Hillary Howard (WTOP and It’s Academic) and her husband Dave Statter (Statter911.com) serve as the Master of Ceremonies once again for this year’s event.