American Lung Association - Fighting for Air

FAQ

 PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
What is the Climb?
Where is the Wells Fargo Center located? Is there parking available?
How do I register? How do I create or join a team?
Is there a practice run? Are there any buildings we can train in?
Is there an early bird registration?
Can I climb the building more than once? How long does it take to climb the building?
How many times do I need to climb the Wells Fargo Center to equal the height of…?
When does registration close? Will there be day of registration?
Is there a minimum age to participate?
How will I know my start time?
Where can I find last year's results?
When and where is packet pick up?

FUNDRAISING
Where can I download printable pledge forms and flyers?
Is there a pledge minimum?
How do I track my pledges?
How long can I collect pledges and still receive the incentive prizes?
Are donations tax deductible?
Where and when do I turn in my collected pledges?
Why is there a pledge minimum?
How do I enter cash/check donations online?

DAY OF EVENT INFORMATION
Where do I park on the day of the event?
Is there a gear check?
How does the race work?
What should I expect at the finish line?
Can my friends and family be at the finish line?
What if I miss my start time?
Can I get a refund if I am unable to make the race?
What should I wear to climb?
What are the instructions and restrictions for the race?
Is water provided in the stairwells?
Will there be medical staff and security available?
When will I know my finish time?
What if I have more questions?

PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
 What is the Climb?
The Fight For Air Climb is a unique race event where participants race up the stairs of the Wells Fargo Center. They start at different times, so it is not a mad dash up the stairs. Each climber is given a timing chip and timed as they ascend the 598 steps. Climbers gather on the 23rd floor for an after-race event with massages and food. It is a wonderful event for the whole family.

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 Where is the Wells Fargo Center located? Is there parking available?
The Wells Fargo Center is located at the Gallivan Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City. The address is 299 South Main Street. Parking is FREE in the parking garage just East of the building. You will enter the parking garage at the stop light on 300 South between State and Main Streets. However, we highly encourage you to use TRAX for travel to the climb. Get off TRAX at “Gallivan Plaza, which has a station right in front of the Wells Fargo Center. Google Map - Directions

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 How do I register? How do I create or join a team?
To register as an individual, click the link for “Join a Team,” “Start a Team” or “Join as an Individual” on the side bar on the left. You must pay in full with a credit card. To join or register a team, the team captain must register FIRST to create the team. Once the team captain has started the team, other members are able to join. Each participant MUST pay the individual registration fee.  Teams can have an unlimited number of members and each member will climb to the 23rd floor.

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 Is there a practice run? Are the any buildings we can train in?
There will be no practice run. Previous participants have trained at the Social & Behavioral Science Building at the U of U and Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

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 Is there an early bird registration?
Very Early Bird: See chart below! Choose the adult or youth option and enter the code earlybird$22 in the “discount code” box on the first page of registration. The code only works for the adult or youth registrant option.

Early Bird: See chart below!  Choose the adult or youth option and enter the code earlybird$26 in the “discount code” box on the first page of registration. The code only works for the adult or youth registrant option.

 
Can I climb the building more than once? How long does it take to climb the building?
You can climb the building as many times as you can during the allotted event timeline. In 2008, Neil Amonson climbed the building 33 times to equal the amount of steps it would take to climb up the center of Kings Peak (The tallest peak in Utah, which stands at 13,528 feet above sea level). This sparked interest among numerous participants to climb more than once. In 2009, Vi Diamond climbed 42 times and Suzy Vanwagoner climbed 27 times for the records for both male and female. In 2010, Suzy returned to push the female record to 30 climbs. If you are interested in climbing more than 5 times, please email Spencer Slade at sslade@lungutah.org. An earlier start time will be given to allow you sufficient time to reach your goal.

The average climb time of the Wells Fargo Center is ~7½ minutes. The fastest climbs are as follow:

• Male: 2008 – Chris Spealler – 02:43.49; Female: 2008 – Miranda Oldroyd – 03:57.70;
• Firefighters* – Male: 2009 - Dave Chugg (Fastest firefighter 2008-11) – 04:15.30; Female – 2008 – Robin Snyder – 05:35.94

*Firefighters climb the tower in 50 lbs of gear.

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 How many times do I need to climb the Wells Fargo Center to equal the height of…?

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 When does registration close? Will there be day of event registration?
Regular registration closes Thursday, February 23rd @ 4PM. Participants may continue to register online and at the climb after this cut-off, but will be charged $40 to register and must still meet the $100 minimum fundraising limit. This applies to ALL participants.  We must do this because with late registrants we are charged extra fees by the building and timing company for adjusting quantities less than 48 hours from the climb.

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 Is there a minimum age to participate?
There is not an age limit for participants. However, parents must consent to the event waiver for participants under 18 and children under 12 must climb with an adult.

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 How will I know my start time?
Every effort is made to ensure that start times are based upon the order of registration. One of the benefits of forming a team is that all team members will climb in consecutive order regardless of the order in which entries are received. Special circumstances will be made for 5+ multiple climbers and work conflicts.

Start times will be posted 1-2 days prior to the climb.

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 Where can I find last year's results?
http://www.milliseconds.com/races/detail/1402

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 When and where is packet pick-up?
Although you may pick up your packet at the event, we strongly encourage you to pick it up on Thursday or Friday at (TBA) to avoid long lines. You may pick-up packets for friends, family or other team members.

Thursday, February 24th
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Friday, February 25th
10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

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FUNDRAISING

 Where can I download printable pledge forms and flyers?
Pledge forms, editable flyers, and fundraising tips are available to download here.

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 Is there a pledge minimum?
The American Lung Association in Utah has a $100 pledge minimum for each individual participant. The Fight for Air Climb is one of three fundraisers that our local association uses to raise money for our local programs. This year, we are determined to raise $75,000 as part of our fight for lung health! With your help, we can reach our goal. Make sure to read our fundraising tips for some fun and easy ways to reach and exceed the fundraising minimum! Please note that the fundraising minimum is in addition to the registration fee. We strive to have the registration fees pay for the cost of the event (shirts, medals, timing, building rental, etc.) so that all your fundraised dollars can go to our programs. This is why it does not apply to the minimum fundraising level.

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 How do I track my pledges?
All event participants will have access to the ALAU online fundraising tracking tool. Go to www.fightforairclimb.org to access our online fundraising tracking tools. This is a user-friendly tool and a great way to gain support from your friends and family for this event.

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 How long can I collect pledges and still receive the incentive prizes?
You must have at least the $100 pledge minimum collected by the event. Even though you may turn in pledges at the event, we encourage you to have the $100 collected by Wednesday February 23rd. We also encourage you to continue to fundraise over the $100 minimum until March 31, 2011 to reach our other incentive levels. Through your efforts, the American Lung Association in Utah can continue its fight for air!

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 Are donations tax deductible?
Yes, donations to this event are tax deductible. Your email confirmation is a receipt of your donation and may be used for your taxes. Please make checks payable to the American Lung Association in Utah (ALAU).

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 Where and when do I turn in my collected pledges?
Pledges made online can be paid by credit or debit card. Pledges collected via check or cash may be mailed ahead of time to our office at:
1930 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Please retain a copy of all donations for your record keeping. Acceptable forms of donations include: Cash, personal/business checks, American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover.
 
February 25, 2012 (Event Day)
Pledges will be accepted on event day, however, we strongly encourage you to turn pledges in ahead of time to avoid long lines and possible start time delays! Please try to have at least your $100 pledge minimum met by Wednesday, Feb. 24.
 
March 31, 2012
You may continue to collect pledges after event day. ALAU will determine eligibility for incentive prizes based on pledges received by March 31, 2012.

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 Why is there a pledge minimum?
As 1 of 3 fundraisers for the American Lung Association in Utah, the work we do here would not be possible without our participants! The money raised from the Fight for Air Climb helps us fight for cures, clean air and smoke-free kids. In order to raise more funds for lung health overall, we are migrating the event to a fully pledge-based event. Since about 60% of our participants in past years either collected no pledges or less than $100, changing the requirement gives us the best chance to improve our income. Obviously in the current economy, it is tough on everyone, but also on charities, so we need to grow our successful campaigns if we are to meet our obligations for programs and research. We appreciate the funds you have previously raised for us. Having a fundraising minimum does put the focus on our priority for the event - to raise money to facilitate our work and programs for lung health.

The requirement is $100 in collected pledges in addition to the registration fee. Please feel free to call our office at 801-484-4456 if you have any further questions or want to talk about ways to reach this requirement. We'd be happy to help. Thank you very much for your support. Your efforts truly bring us one step and one breath closer to achieving our mission.

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 How do I enter cash/check donations online?
You may have sponsors or donors give you cash/checks for your climb.  There are 2 options of how to get the donations added to your total funds raised on your climb page.

Option 1:

• Log in to the event web site http://www.lung.org/pledge-events/ut/salt-lake-city-climb-fy12/
• Click on “Participant Center” in the left-hand menu just under where you entered your log-in information
• Click on “My Progress”
• Click on “Enter Gifts Received Offline”
• Fill in the sponsor’s info and pledge amount.
• Click “Save” or “Save and Add Another”
• Mail donation(s) to the American Lung Association in Utah or bring them to the event

Option 2:
Mail your cash/check donations to:

American Lung Association in Utah
Attn: Spencer Slade
1930 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah  84106

• Please make sure to include the name, address and amount donated by the donor.
• Your donations will be entered in the system once they are received and will be visible within a day or two of us receiving them.

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DAY OF EVENT INFORMATION
 Where do I park on the day of the event?
Parking is FREE in the parking garage just East of the building. You will enter the parking garage at the stop light on 300 South between State and Main Streets. However, we highly encourage you to use TRAX for travel to the climb, as it is cleaner for the environment. Get off TRAX at “Gallivan Plaza, which has a station right in front of the Wells Fargo Center.

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 Is there a gear check?
Gear check will be available at the event. Do not bring valuable belongings to the stair climb. Due to limited space, gear check must be minimal to ensure a speedy process. Please only utilize this service for items such as jackets, sweats and street shoes. Gear check will be in the lobby near the registration table.

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 How does the race work?
The Fight For Air Climb begins at 8:00 a.m. for 10+ Multiple Climbers. Climbers take off at 15-20 second intervals, creating staggered starts. The timing is professionally done using specially designed computer chips (worn on your ankle only). Water stations will be found on the 6th, 15th and 23rd floors. Volunteers will be stationed at the water stations and can radio for help if needed. Medical personnel are stationed on the 23rd floor.

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 What should I expect at the finish line?
At the finish line, you will be greeted with music, cheers and applause. You will receive an event medal and then immediately following volunteers will ask you to stop for a moment so that your timing chip can be removed. (If you plan to climb more than once, please keep your chip on, but do not forget to have it removed once you are done. All lost chips cost $90 to replace and will be charged to the participant.) You will then be able to join the party on the 23rd floor and enjoy goodies from our sponsors, free food, massages and the great view. Climb times will be projected on to the wall and will be updated regularly.

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 Can my friends and family be at the finish line?
Absolutely! Friends and family are more than welcome at the finish line. Due to space, we do ask that you limit your guests to a few people so that other climbers can have supporters there as well.

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 What if I miss my start time?
If you miss your start time we will be able to sneak you in another timeslot. However, we suggest that you arrive to the Wells Fargo Center at least 20 minutes prior to your climb so you can turn in donations, warm-up, and get a team photo.

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 Can I get a refund if I am unable to make the race?
As a non-profit organization, the American Lung Association in Utah considers the registration fee a donation and unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds.

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 What should I wear to climb?
It is suggested that you wear comfortable clothing appropriate for an intense cardio workout. Make sure you wear breathable fabric and proper shoes are essential. Running, walking or cross-training shoes are key to a successful climb. The stairwells are ventilated and may be a little chilly when you start. However, you'll warm up quickly and the sense of ventilation fades within while you climb!

It is required that you securely attach your bib number to the front of your shirt with the safety pins provided in your race packet or at the registration area. All climbers must display their bib number during the event.  This is your ticket into the stairwell.

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 What are the instructions and restrictions for the race?
All climbers should start their climb at their assigned start time. You must take the elevator to return to the lobby level. You will not be permitted to exit the stairwell and walk into the building. Per Wasatch Management, we are only allowed to enter on the 1st floor and exit on the 23rd. You may wear an iPod or MP3 player, but keep it at a lower volume level so that you can hear as others need to pass or volunteers need to give instructions. Pass on the left.

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 Is water provided in the stairwells?
Although small bottles of water are provided at designated rest stops in the stairwells, we suggest that you bring your own water pack with a little water for sipping to prevent dry mouth.

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 Will there be medical staff and security available?
Medical staff will be on the 23rd floor for those who need any assistance throughout the event. Any volunteers can assist you and put you in contact with medical personnel.
 
Wasatch Management Security will be stationed in the lobby and on the 23rd floor of the building to ensure your safety. Staff and volunteers will have radio communication in case of an emergency. All security procedures must be followed.

If a medical staff member determines you should stop participation, you are absolutely required to stop, and not begin again unless authorized by the medical staff.

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 When will I know my finish time?
Climb times will be projected on to the wall on the 23rd floor and will be updated regularly throughout the event. After the event you can visit http://milliseconds.com/ to see your results.

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 What if I have more questions?
If you have thoroughly read this web site and still have questions you may call our offices at 801-484-4456 or e-mail Spencer at sslade@lungutah.org.

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