American Lung Association - Fighting for Air

Event Information

CLIMBERS, it's almost time... one week and counting...

Fight For Air Climb, San Francisco

March 31, 2012 * 555 California Street * San Francisco

What to expect on Climb Day 

Early Packet Pick-Up

Want to avoid waiting through the lines the day of the event? Pick up your packets early on the following days and locations:

• Wednesday, March 28, 2012
  4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  555 California Street (on the concourse level by Starbucks)
  San Francisco, CA 94104
 
• Thursday, March 29, 2012
  9:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
  American Lung Association in California
  424 Pendleton Way
  Oakland, CA 94621

Delayed Self-Pledge

If you have not yet met your fundraising minimum and don't want to wait in line to turn in money, you can participate in our Delayed Self-Pledge. This will allow you until April 30, 2012 to continue to fundraise.

Event-Day Information 

Event Day: March 31, 2012

Climb Location: 555 California Street, San Francisco (between Montgomery and Kearny Street)

Check-In: Plaza in front of 555 California Street

Event Begins: Staggered start times beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Finish Line: 52nd floor of 555 California Street

Event Website: www.FightForAirClimb.org

Questions: Contact Carrie Nash at carrie.nash@lung.org or (510) 982-3149

How the Climb Works

One week before the Climb, each climber will be assigned a wave time. Waves begin every 15 minutes and include about 90 participants. Climbers are asked to arrive and check in on the plaza at 555 California one hour before their assigned wave time to pick up their event t-shirt, timing chip and bib, and to warm up. The first wave time will start at 8:45 a.m. and waves will continue until Noon. As one of the benefits of forming a team, all team members will be assigned to the same wave.

Once your wave has been called, you will be escorted to the stairwell where climbers are released in 8-10 second intervals. There are seven rehydration stations throughout the 52 floors to the top.

At the finish line, participants will be greeted by cheering volunteers and will enjoy the beautiful views of San Francisco from the 52nd floor banquet room. The post-Climb party will include light refreshments, massage therapists, and music. A VIP room with champagne and hors d'oeuvres will be open to climbers who raise $1,000 or more! You also can bring a guest if you raise $2,000.

Believe it or not, the average climb time is 20-25 minutes.

With guest passes, your family can join you at the finish line for the post-Climb party. Guest passes can be purchased for $20 the day of the event.

Preparing to Climb

Proper preparation can help you avoid injuries during this challenge. Pacing yourself during the stairclimb is key to successful completion - it is recommended that you walk throughout the event at an even pace.

Starting at least two days before the event, drink plenty of water and continue hydrating throughout the Climb. Water is provided at aid stations within the stairwells. You also may refer to the training tips sheet.

Important Note: It is not unusual for participants in indoor athletic activities such as stair climbs to experience a dry throat during and after the event. Sucking on a throat lozenge before - but not during - the climb may alleviate this condition.

Appropriate Attire

It is suggested that you war comfortable clothing, appropriate for a cardio workout. The event t-shirt provided to you may be worn, but it is not required. Proper shoes are essential. Running, walking, or cross-training shoes are important for a successful climb. Don't forget to display your team pride and spirit! Create a shirt for your team!

Check-In Process

Once you arrive at the plaza for the event, follow these simple steps to prepare for your climb:

1. Check in at REGISTRATION (only if you have money to turn in)

2. Check in at EXPRESS CHECK-IN and pick up your Climb T-shirt, bib, and time chip if:

• You have your ticket from registration
• You have completed the delayed self-pledge prior to the event
• You have met your fundraising minimum prior to the event

3. Check all gear at Gear Check

4. Gather with your team for a team photo on the Plaza steps

5. Warm-up

6. Listen for wave times and when called to proceed, go to staging area

7. Climbers registering the day of will need to go to the DAY OF REGISTRATION booth to fill out their forms and pay fees.

T-Shirts

Every climber will receive a Fight For Air Climb t-shirt the day of the event at Check-In, which we hope you will wear with pride throughout the coming year. We also encourage teams to create and wear their own special team shirts.

Bibs (not the type you spill on!)

It is required that you securely attach your bib number to the front of your shirt with the safety pins provided at the Check-In table on the Plaza. Make sure to pin the top and bottom so the photographers can see your number! Your bib number also serves as your entry pass to the post-Climb party.

Timing Chip

Each climber will be given a timing chip at check-in to measure his or her climb time. Be sure that you securely attach your timing chip. Participants who climb without a timing chip properly attached will not register an official time. 

Climbers are responsible for returning their timing chips upon completion of the climb at the finish line. There will be volunteers at the finish line to assist you in removing/returning the timing chips. Participants will be billed a fee of $30 for any unreturned chips. Please ensure you do not leave the event with your timing chip.

The Course 

The first wave of climbers will begin their climb at 8:45 a.m. Climbers will take off in 8-second intervals creating staggered starts to climb the 1,197 stairs to the 52nd floor.

Water stations are provided in the plaza area and on designated floors in stairwells. Please feel free to stop and rest on the landings or at any water/medical station. The stairwell shaft is well ventilated, creating more than adequate clean air circulation for this event.

555 California stairwells turn to the left. While climbing, slower climbers climb on the right. Faster climbers please climb on the left and pass in the middle.

Participants will enjoy the sights of San Francisco from the 52nd floor banquet room. The post event party will include refreshments, massage therapists, and live music.

Stairwell Rules

Only the following items will be allowed in the stairwell:

• Ipod or other MP3 style listening device
• Cash or credit card for cash bar on the 52nd floor banquet room
• car keys

These items will not be allowed in the stairwell:

• Any water carrying container like a bottle or Camelpack. There are plenty of rehydration stations in the stairwells to get adequate water. This rule is for your safety and the safety of other climbers. We don't want anyone slipping on a water spill.
• Cameras. No photography is allowed in the stairwell except by our professional photographers.

You may send a camera, and other personal belongings up to the post-Climb party on the 52nd floor with your guest, or after you Climb, you can come back down by elevator to the plaza to retrieve these items from Gear Check to have with you at the party.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For the safety of the adult and child, climbers will not be allowed to climb with a child in a backpack. Please make arrangements accordingly - perhaps bring a guest who can watch your child while you climb, or if two parents are climbing, request that we split your start times so one parent can watch your child while the other climbs then switch. Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to climb. Children 10-18 years old must have a signed child climb waiver.

Climbing Instructions and Wave Times

The Fight For Air Climb begins at 8:45 a.m. Each Climber is assigned a wave time. Waves begin every 15 minutes, and climbers will be instructed to gather at the staging area on the plaza 15 minutes prior to their wave's starting time. Climbers are then released into the stairwells in 8-second intervals. For example, if your wave time is 9:45 a.m., you will be asked to line up at 9:30 a.m. The order in which you get in line is the order in which you will climb.

You are free to arrange yourselves in any order within each wave. Line monitors will assist you. Wave times are not flexible. Please do not miss your wave time.

One of the benefits of forming a team for the Fight For Air Climb is that all team members will be assigned to the same wave. Start times will be listed on the website and emailed to you.

Climbing a stairwell multiple times, or going "down the stairs" is prohibited. You may run, you may walk, but please don't crawl! Handrails are on the left and right.

Please remember that 555 California is a private business facility. Due to the nature of this event, participants should arrive one hour before their designated start time to check-in, receive their bib and timing chip, and warm up.

Water Stations

Water stations are located at the Plaza, as well as throughout the stairwells and at the finish line to the 52nd floor banquet room.

For the safety of all climbers, you are not allowed to bring your own water bottle or Camelpack into the stairwells.

Gear Check

To facilitate participation in the Climb and to ensure everyone's safety, participants will check all personal belongings at the secure gear check booth on the Plaza. Please plan to leave personal belongings at home, in your car, or at the gear check station on the Plaza. Items left at Gear Check will remain on the Plaza until you retrieve them upon your departure after the climb.

Please limit your gear check items to outerwear, street shoes, etc. Do not bring valuables to the Fight For Air Climb. The American Lung Association in California and Vornado Realty Trust are not responsible for lost belongings. Please note that gear check will close at 1 pm. Do not bring large bags, purses, or back packs. Gear check can only hold coats and items that will fit into a 15"x15" bag.

There will be two Lost & Found locations at the event: one will be at Gear Check on the Plaza and the other will be in the 52nd floor banquet room.

Security and Safety

Please remember that 555 California is a private business office facility. Please be courteous as we are guests of Vornado Realty Trust, property manager for the building. All security procedures must be followed. To ensure everyone's safety, climbers are not permitted to leave the stairwell unless escorted by Vorado Realty Trust security. Vornado Realty Trust staff will be stationed approximately every 8 floors to ensure your safety throughout the building.

Should a participant who has begun the climb not able to complete for whatever reason, he or she will be escorted by Vornado Realty Trust security from the stairwell to the nearest elevator and accompanied either up to the top to participate in the celebration or to the ground floor to exit the building.

If you must exit in case of an emergency, or if you are unable to complete the climb, please seek security, volunteer, or medical staff for assistance to be properly escorted. In addition, there is an intercom on every  stairwell landing for communications with security staff in case of emergency. Security staff throughout the building will have radio communication in case of an emergency.

Medical Assistance

Medical staff will be on-site for those who may need assistance throughout the event. Medical professionals will be at the finish line and at water stations. An ambulance and Emergency Medical Technician staff will also be on site. Any volunteer can assist you and put you in contact with medical personnel. If you must exit in case of an emergency, or if you are unable to complete the Climb, please seek security, volunteer or medical staff for assistance. You will be properly escorted to your desired location. You cannot exit on any floor without Vornado Realty Trust security personnel!

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the Concourse level of 555 California Street and at the 52nd floor banquet room finish line. Port-a-potties will also be available outside, near the Plaza. Restroom facilities are not accessible from the stairwells.  Please plan ahead.

Guest Passes

With guest passes, your family and friends can join you at the finish line for the post-Climb party on the 52nd floor banquet room. Each guest must have his or her own pass to enter. Guest passes can be pre-purchased up until 4:00 p.m. online at www.FightForAirClimb.org. Pre-purchased guest passes will be available for pick-up on the Plaza the day of the event. If you have pre-purchased your guest pass, please bring your receipt (email confirmation).

Guest passes also will be available for purchase on the Plaza on event day. Guest passes are sold for $20 and includes participation to the post-Climb party. Guests will be escorted to the 52nd floor express elevators by Vornado Trust Realty security personnel or Fight For Air Climb event staff. Children under 5 years of age do not need a guest pass.

Post Climb Celebration

A post-Climb party awaits you at the 52nd Floor Banquet Room!

• Enjoy fun & festive music
• Re-fuel with good food
• Visit our generous sponsor booths
• Enjoy the services of a volunteer massage therapist
• Get your team photo taken by professional photographers

Photos

Professional photographers will take pictures of each participant as s/he nears the finish line. Team photographs will be taken on the Plaza immediately before your wave time. These photographs can be viewed and purchased after the event through the event website.

Merchandise

Each participant receives a Fight For Air CLimb t-shirt, and climb hats will be on sale for $15.

Results

Official event times for every participant will be available in the 52nd floor banquet room and will be posted on www.FightForAirClimb.org on Monday, April 2.

Race Time Awards

Medals will be given to the fastest finishers for each gender in the following age brackets:

• Under 19
• 19-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60-69
• 70+

FUNDRAISING & PRIZES

Fundraising Minimum Commitment

The Fight For Air Climb is a fundraising event to support the mission of the American Lung Association in California. As a condition of registering as a participant, you agreed to pay a $25 registration fee as well as meet the $100 fundraising minimum. Climbers on average raise over $300 each for healthy lungs and clean air! So don't worry, fundraising is easier than you think. Fundraising suggestions and tips are available here.

If you do not meet the fundraising minimum by event day (March 31), you will have to sign up for the Delayed Self Pledge, with the remaining balance of the $100 minimum to be charged to your credit card on April 30. Climbers that have not met their goal or signed up for delayed self-pledge will not be able to climb.

Fundraising Basics

Every event participant is encouraged to use the online fundraising tols available on www.FightForAirClimb.org During the online registration process, you chose a username and password to access these tools. Your username and password are included in the email confirmation of your registration. The website offers user-friendly tools to gain support from your friends, family members, and co-workers. Pledge forms can also be printed off the website for offline fundraising.

Through your efforts, the American Lung Association in California is able to pursue our mission of improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education, and advocacy.

All donations are tax deductible, and all donors will receive a thank you acknowledgment to be used for tax purposes. Additional donor receipts are available by request by contacting the American Lung Association in California at (510) 982-3149. Please make checks payable to the American Lung Association in California and mark Fight For Air Climb on the memo. Additional fundraising suggestions and tips are available on the event website.

V.I.P. Room Celebration

To inspire your fundraising efforts even more, all Climbers who have raised $1,000 or more by event day will be invited to the VIP room in a special section of the 52nd floor banquet room. You  will receive a VIP pass when you check in. Champagne, mimosas, and special hors d'oeuvres will be served in the VIP room for this select group. If you fundraise $2,000 or more, you will be invited to join the VIP room celebration, and you will get a free guest pass so a friend can join you at the party.

Donation Turn-In Options

Most donations will be paied by credit card online through your webpage on www.FightForAirClimb.org. You may, however, collect cash or check donations directly from your supporters. You are encouraged to turn in these "offline pledges" as soon as you receive them by downloading the printable pledge sheet and following the printed instructions.

You may turn-in collected donations on event day when you check in.

You may continue to collect donations even after the event. In fact, we encourage you to let everyone know what a great time you had at the Fight For Air Climb and continue your fundraising in the weeks after the event.

Donations may also be mailed or delivered to:
American Lung Association in California
Attn: Fight For Air Climb
424 Pendleton Way
Oakland, CA 94621

Incentive Prizes

The top fundraising team trophy will be awarded to the top fundraising team, as measured by the total funds raised by all team members.

All climbers are eligible to earn incentive prizes based on the amount of funds collected. The $100 fundraising minimum committed at the time of registration will be included in the fundraising totals. Please note that the $25 registration fee does not count toward incentive prizes.

The incentive prize level will be determined by your fundraising total as of midnight on April 28, 2012. Starting in May, participants will receive a redemption certificate with which to order the desired earned prize. See www.FightForAirClimb.org for a complete list of prizes.

If you wish to have 100% of your fundraising total to be applied to the work of the American Lung Association in California, you may choose NOT to redeem your incentive certificate.

SEE YOU THERE!