Sparks firefighter Jake Palmer had a long Saturday night, which included pulling someone from a burning building and assisting at a traffic accident.
After sleeping for one hour, he woke up Sunday morning to participate in Climb the Legacy. Palmer, along with nearly 400 other participants, climbed 36 flights of stairs at the Silver Legacy downtown to raise money for the American Lung Association. “It wasn’t exactly the best conditions to prepare for today,” said Palmer, who helped get the fire department community involved. Teams from nine fire departments around Northern Nevada and teams from the local community participated in the charity even, said Gwen Bourne, development director for the American Lung Association’s Reno chapter. Preliminary results showed stair climbing times ranging from 3 minutes to 26 minutes. Seeing the enthusiasm at the after party, Bourne said she looks forward to Climb the Legacy becoming an annual event. Reno fire fighter Kevin Joell, who sat on the planning committee, said there were different aspects that made Climb the Legacy significant for himself and his team members. “As fire fighters, training and physical fitness are important to us,” Joell said. “Also, we’re exposed to smoke, chemicals and particles in the air when we’re on the job.
At the top of the stairs, participants gasped for air as they crossed the finish line.