American Lung Association’s 15th Annual Fight For Air Climb Boston Goes Virtual Due to COVID-19 Precautions

For the first time in its 15 year history, the Fight For Air Climb Boston, hosted by the American Lung Association, will be held virtually. By shifting from a physical event to one held online, the organization will reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and remain in observance of CDC and state recommended guidelines. Effective immediately, participants from throughout New England —and around the country—will be able to register, track their own progress and complete goals for the Fight For Air Climb while remaining active within their own home or community.

“The Fight For Air Climb Boston is a beloved event for our team and for many in the greater Boston community—but our top priority is always the health of our participants, volunteers and staff. For that reason, we’ve made the difficult decision to shift this year’s event to a virtual one,” said Development Director for the American Lung Association in Massachusetts Erin Hickey-Reardon. “While COVID-19 may have changed our event plan, it has also strengthened our resolve to act as a community and defend the right and ability for everyone to breathe freely. We thank our participants and lung health community for working with us as committed partners in the effort to defeat COVID-19 and helping to fund vital lung health research that saves lives.”

The annual Fight For Air Climb was scheduled for March 28th at One Boston Place. As a virtual event, organizers have developed new ways for people to participate virtually now through June 30, starting with downloading the free Strava app and joining the Fight For Air Climb Boston Club. Participants are asked to stay active and choose a challenge including climbing, running, walking or riding. Their tracked activity will correspond with the official Strava leaderboard, retaining a sense of friendly competition that the event is often known for. The Lung Association has also provided a list of potential local trails and parks, encourages participants to choose a virtual bib number, and will provide a printable certificate upon completion. All are welcome to use #fightforairclimb, #everystepcounts and #bostonclimb to join in on social media.

The Fight For Air Climb Boston is the largest Fight For Air Climb in the Northeast and regularly attracts over 2,000 people to walk or run up the 82 flights of stairs, or 789 steps, to the top of One Boston Place. Climbers include more than 600 firefighters from 100 New England fire departments who climb during the “Firefighter Challenge” wearing full firefighter gear, weighing up to 50 lbs. The Fight For Air Climb Boston is one of a series of American Lung Association signature fundraising events across the country, all of which have now gone virtual due to COVID-19 safety precautions.  
Registration for the virtual event is $10 and participants are asked to raise $100 or more. Participants raising over $100 may be eligible for a t-shirt, incentive prize, social media mentions and more. The event aims to raise over $400,000 for our mission, to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through advocacy, education and research of lung diseases, including COVID-19. Those who registered for the event prior to the virtual announcement will get complimentary registration for the 2021 Climb.

The Fight For Air Climb Boston sponsors are CBRE, Berkshire Bank, One Boston Place, Boston 25, Boston Private, UniCare, 100.7 WZLX, Radon Away, Milton Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Inc, Bay State Physical Therapy, Red Apple Farm, Poland Spring, B.Good, and Scholars American Bistro & Cocktail Lounge.

For more information on the Boston Fight For Air Climb visit BostonClimb.org. For more information on the American Lung Association’s work on COVID-19, and the COVID-19 Action Initiative, visit Lung.org/covid19.