American Lung Association - Fighting for Air

Event Information

Each year, too many lives are lost to lung disease and this is your chance to climb, raise money and make an impact in their honor. By joining the Fight for Air Climb, you are making the commitment to fight lung disease so everyone can breathe easier- including you!

• Event Overview
• Fundraising
• Awards
• Firefighter Competition
• Training

EVENT OVERVIEW

Families, individuals and teams join together in a climb to raise awareness for the 35 million Americans who suffer from asthma. Participants work together to fundraise.
 
Please join the thousands of individuals across the nation who believe in the cause and will climb in their communities as well.
 
You can get involved by:

• Registering as a Team Captain
• Joining an existing Team as a new registrant
• Signing up as an individual registrant
• Sponsoring the event
• Joining the event planning committee
• Making a contribution supporting a registrant

FUNDRAISING

It is required to fund raise at least $100 toward the cause.  This is easier than you think!  It is as easy as asking 10 friends for $10.  Coaching packets and trainings are available.  Please contact our office for more details (800-LUNG-USA). 
 
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law. The American Lung Association ® is a registered 501 (c) 3 organization. Please make checks payable to the American Lung Association.
 
A fundraising packet is available to help you reach your fundraising minimum.  Check out the "Fundraising Help" page on the main menu.  If you need additional help in meeting the fundraising minimum requirement, please contact our office at 800-LUNG-USA.  The ALA staff is happy to help coach and provide fast and efficient ideas to reach your fundraising requirement.

Awards

Individual

1st Place Overall Male/Female
2nd Place Overall Male/Female
3rd Place Overall Male/Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Male/Female Climbers in the following age categories:

• 10-12
• 13-18
• 19-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60+

1st Overall Female Firefighter
1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Male Firefighter in the following age categories:

• 18-29
• 30-39
• 40+

Fastest Health Professional
Fastest Law Enforcement Officer

Team Awards

Fastest Team
Largest Team
Fastest Fire Dept Team
Most Spirited Team

Fundraising
(Please note: these awards will be handed out after the March 4, 2011 fundraising deadline).

Highest Fundraising Team
1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Individual Fundraisers

Firefighter Competition

Fees

A $35 (non-transferable and non-refundable) registration fee is required for each participant, and there is an additional $100 minimum fundraising requirement due by the date of the event in order to participate. The money raised will support the American Lung Association in our mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

Rules & Regulations

In the best interest of competition and to make this event as fair as possible, the following guidelines have been established. In order to qualify, the following guidelines
must be adhered to:

1. TEAM - You must have 5 members to qualify for the Fastest Fire Department Team award. Members do not have to be from the same department. A team may consist of five members from five different departments.
2. PPE - Must be structural firefighting gear adhering to NFPA 1971. Both coat and bunker pants MUST have the liner in place. Failure to have a liner will result in your time not being counted toward the Firefighter Division awards. Bunker pants must be worn. 3/4 coats are permissible.
3. BOOTS - All boots must be structural firefighting boots. Rubber, leather & lace up boots will be permitted, provided they are fire rated. No station boots will be permitted when qualifying for the trophy. Again, boots must be structural firefighting boots. 
4. GLOVES - Gloves are optional. They do not directly affect the outcome of the race.
5. HELMET & HOOD – Firefighter helmets are mandatory, hoods are optional.
6. AIR TANK - An air tank must be worn the entire climb in order to qualify your time for the Firefighter-specific awards. It is recommended that they be full, though this will not be policed. Unfortunately, due to the various sizes, capacities, makes and department standards there will be no official size or weight set for the air tank. Therefore the only requirement is that one be worn for the entire climb. 
7. MASK - Masks are required. Times will be counted whether you are on air or not. If you are not on air, then the mask does NOT need to be worn on your face, but you need to have it attached to your uniform. 
8. UNDERLAYERS – Optional, but it is recommended that some sort of clothing be worn :) 
9. TOOLS - WILL NOT BE ALLOWED (i.e., axe, halligan, pike pole, etc.)
10. EMS - Any EMS team is more than welcome in the Firefighter competition provided they meet the above requirements.

START TIMES: Start times for Fire Department teams will be assigned based on the order that the team was created. Team members will be given consecutive start times. If a team needs to be divided up and not start one right after the other, please contact the Event Manager by Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Start times for Firefighters who are climbing as individuals and not with a team will be assigned based on order of registration.

PLEASE NOTE: These categories are the mandatory requirements to qualify for the Fastest Individual Firefighter and the Fastest Fire Department Team awards ONLY.  It is the intent of these guidelines to ensure fairness within the competition.  These guidelines will be monitored on an honor system. If a complaint is filed with the Event Manager, it will be investigated. If it is deemed that an infraction has occurred, that competitor's time will be removed from the overall individual and team's qualifying time.

GOOD LUCK & MANY THANKS FOR YOU SUPPORT!!!

 Training Tips & Tools

1. Build a foundation of fitness and an aerobic base (cross training is always advantageous).
2. Find activities that tax your lungs and legs such as running, walking, or biking a steep hill.
3. For those of you that work out at a gym, a Step Mill and/or Stair Master are also good training. Climbing stairs on a machine delivers a lower impact workout than actual stairs. If you are using a machine, try not to hold onto the rails, avoid leaning forward, pump your arms like you are running and try to keep your feet flat.
4. More serious stair climbing should commence about six to eight weeks prior to the event. Keep in mind that there is no replacement for climbing actual stairs.
5. Gradually increase your stair climbing days, while continuing to cross train on off days. Any stairwell will do - work, home, parking garage, mall.
6. To help build lower body strength, climb ever other step.

Download our training program

Download our training grid