Pennsylvania Lung Transplant Recipient Trains for 2022 Mount Everest Climb by Participating in Lung Association Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh March 19th 

Less than five years ago, Pennsylvania resident David Skalski (Ski for short) underwent a lung transplant after being diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease and a very rare case of Myosistis MDA5 that destroyed his lung in just days. Three years after surviving a grueling lung transplant, Ski, an avid mountain climber, ascended to 16,444 feet on Mount Kilimanjaro, and there, he honored his organ donor, John Tuzak, a 26- year-old from Chicago, by spreading his ashes on the mountain.

Ski’s mission is to continue to provide hope for those impacted by lung disease. In addition to his own journey with lung disease, Ski’s mom (Germaine Skalski) lived with emphysema and COPD.  “Lung disease is devastating. We must work towards raising awareness and funds for lifesaving research so that those affected by lung disease can continue to climb higher - reach their goals, accomplish their dreams and live their best lives. The Lung Association's Climbs have given me a platform to provide hope and help defeat lung disease,” said Ski.

Ski also plans to continue to climb higher and higher to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer and honor those impacted by climbing Mount Everest in 2022. To support his goals and train for his next mountain, he will be participating in the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 19th at PNC Park, starting at 9:00 a.m. To support Ski or to learn more about his story, visit his page here.

Registration is open for the event, with participant options for every type of Climber, including individuals, families, groups of friends and corporate teams as well as special categories for GORUCK, Elite Climbers and Firefighters/First Responders. Registration for the Fight For Climb is $35 with a minimum $100 fundraising requirement. For more information, and to register, visit FightforAirClimb.org/Pittsburgh.