The Cochrane Fire team held its final training session today in preparation for the Firefighters Stairclimb Challenge.
This time around it was in light gear, more to stay loose for the daunting climb up the 58-storey Brookfield Place, Calgary's tallest building, in just four days' time.
Firefighters Chris Chyka and Derek Orr have participated from day one of the annual fundraiser for Wellspring Calgary. Nine years into it, they continue to enjoy the comradery it instills while supporting a cause close to the heart of firefighters. Firefighters have a nine per cent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 per cent higher risk of dying from it than the general public.
Wellspring Alberta provides free programs, services, and support to meet the psychological, emotional, and educational needs of individuals and families living with cancer.
Chyka says they have a set formula for their training. They started with t-shirts and shorts in late December, then added more and more of the equipment they will be wearing on the day of the event, in the range of 30 to 40 lbs.
"It's a marquee event for us," says Chyka. "It's a real grind, and as you get older your recovery times are different. I think everyone did really well again but I found this year the training seemed a little tougher, maybe it is with so much on the go, and the anticipation of going to a new building."
Years ago, Chyka and Orr pledged to do the event for 10 years, and Chyka hasn't completely discounted doing it even longer.
"We'll see. Next year's going to be a big one for us, and then we'll discuss after that, and see how it goes."
Until then there's been some driving reasons to participate for Orr.
"Camaraderie is a really big part of it. The fundraising is amazing how it adds up over the years. Next year will be our 10th and we'll start to tally up what we've raised."
While Chyka and Orr have laid the foundation for the participation of Cochrane firefighters, many others are repeat participants, including Eric Paxman.
"My dad had prostate cancer so he was going through treatments when I first started fundraising and doing the climb," says Paxman. "The first year was on his birthday, actually, and so that drove me a lot, and then he died pretty soon after that, so that has driven me since then.
"My wife also had breast cancer, so there's been a lot of cancer in my life, and that's what drives me to keep doing it."
He's also a pretty fast climber, finishing fourth overall in one of the years he has participated, despite grabbing a few hamburgers to fill an empty stomach just before starting his climb.
Chyka and Orr have led the charge each year, but there are many other repeat participants.
They include Erix Paxman, who knows first-hand how hard cancer can be on a family.
"My dad had prostate cancer so he was going through treatments when I first started fundraising and doing the climb," says Paxman. "The first year was on his birthday, actually, and so that drove me a lot, and then he died pretty soon after that, so that has driven me since then.
"My wife also had breast cancer, so there's been a lot of cancer in my life, and that's what drives me to keep doing it."
He's also a pretty fast climber, finishing fourth overall in one of the years he has participated, despite grabbing a few hamburgers to fill an empty stomach just before starting his climb.
Alex Vague is looking forward to returning to downtown Calgary after a few years of doing the steps here at the Cochrane Ranche historic site during the pandemic. He says they've been missing it.
"It's definitely a good event, great cause, and a good motivator to get up in the morning and do some cardio before going on shift."
Town CAO Mike Derricott is getting his first taste of completing the climb downtown Calgary since doing the steps at the Cochrane Ranche during the pandemic.
He's enjoying having the opportunity to get the full experience this time around.
"We were training alone in my first year," says Derricott, "and now I get the whole experience of being on a team and supporting each other, so it's been great spending time in the hall and getting to know the guys better."
Orr says they appreciate the involvement of both Derricott and Mayor Jeff Genung.
"Oh, it's great to have these guys show up sometimes at 5 in the morning and run with us," says Orr. "I mean, the support goes both ways. They don't miss a day, and we don't miss a day. It just keeps everybody together because we're down here at the fire hall and they're at the RancheHouse and sometimes our organization can seem a little divided. It's nice to have those guys come here and put the effort in with us."
To learn more about the stairclimb or to make a donation, visit here.