PITTSBURGH, PA | March 6, 2026
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania will host the 20th Anniversary Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh, presented by UPMC and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, at One Oxford Centre. Registration opening at 7:30 AM, the event will bring together hundreds of participants, including firefighters, first responders, corporate teams, and families, to climb for healthy lungs and clean air.
“For 20 years, the Greater Pittsburgh community has climbed hundreds of stairs to raise awareness and critical funding to support the 384,200 people in Greater Pittsburgh region who live with lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer,” said Caroline Hutchinson, Executive Director at the Lung Association. “We’re inviting everyone to join us on the stairs to support our family, friends, colleagues and neighbors who fight for every breath. Each step takes us closer to a world free of lung cancer and lung disease.”
Everyone can climb—from beginners to seasoned athletes. How you climb is up to you: take it fast or take it slow. With 836 stairs and 42 stories, One Oxford Centre offers an unforgettable challenge and the rewarding feeling of reaching the top.
As participants ready to take the stairs once again, the 20th anniversary shines a light on the Climb’s impact in Pittsburgh. Over the past two decades the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh has:
- Invested $2.5 million in local lung health research
- Welcomed 3,449 participants
- Partnered with 67 mission-driven organizations
- Raised nearly $1.81 million for research, education, and advocacy
Ninety cents of every dollar supports the Lung Association’s mission. Joining the Fight For Air Climb supports the work of the Lung Association to end lung cancer, improve the air we breathe, reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families and create a tobacco-free future.
Storytellers Available for Advance Interviews: Advance interviews are available with lung health experts as well as participants who can speak to the personal impact of lung disease, their motivation for climbing, and the importance of clean air and healthy lungs, (full details available upon request) including:
- 20‑Year Legacy Team Storyteller – A founding member of Team Emerson that has climbed since the event’s inception, helping build one of Pittsburgh’s most dedicated and highest fundraising‑ teams, raising more than $108,000 over two decades.
- Presenting Sponsor/Local Leadership Board– A Local Leadership Board Member and longtime lung health advocate whose organization has supported the Pittsburgh Climb for six years. They have helped deepen hospital engagement and have been a leading national fundraiser, contributing more than $146,000 to the Lung Association, including over $30,000 in 2026 alone.
- Firefighter & First Responder – A two-time MSA Safety Fundraising Hero Award winner who climbs as part of ‑real-world training and inspires more than 50 firefighters and first responders who participate‑ each year.
Stair climbing has significant health benefits. It is a great workout for your lungs and heart, strengthens major muscles, and improves balance and coordination.
Registration for the Fight For Air Climb is now open for individuals and teams, which can include friends, families, running clubs, social groups, and companies. For more information, visit FightForAirClimb.org/pittsburgh.
Community Partners & Sponsors:
Since acquiring One Oxford Centre in 2025, Rugby Realty has quickly taken on a leadership role in the Fight For Air Climb. The company has mobilized corporate engagement from four of its downtown office buildings, bringing employees, tenants and vendors together in support of the American Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
Thank you to our local Fight For Air Climb sponsors, led by Presenting Sponsors UPMC and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, with additional support from MSA Safety, Emerson, Jim Shorkey Auto, AstraZeneca, AHN Healthcare @ Home, and Citizens.
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