American Lung Association Recognizes Pasco County Fire Rescue with Top Fundraising Award

At an award ceremony last Wednesday morning, representatives from the American Lung Association in Florida presented Pasco County Fire Rescue with the Top Fundraising Firefighter Company Trophy. The award recognizes the firefighter company that raises the most funds during the Fight For Air Climb Tampa, the Lung Association’s premier stair-climbing fundraiser. This is the first time Pasco County received the top fundraising honor.

“We are incredibly grateful for Pasco County Fire Rescue’s support and dedication to lung health and our community,” said Beth Ash, chair of the Lung Association’s Gulf Coast Florida Board and operations manager, Corporate Accounts, at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Thanks to the efforts of these everyday heroes, we can help build a future with clean air and healthy lungs for all. This award is well deserved. Congratulations!”

“As firefighters and first responders, it’s our duty to save lives and protect our community,” said Pasco County Fire Rescue Chief Tony Perez. “Our team’s participation in the Fight For Air Climb Tampa is an extension of that commitment, and I’m proud so many of our firefighters heeded the call.”

Pasco County Fire Rescue competed against 13 other Tampa Bay area firefighter teams in the firefighter division of the Lung Association’s 19th annual Fight For Air Climb Tampa, held on April 6. Twenty-five team members climbed in full turnout gear to the top of Bank of America Plaza, Tampa’s second-tallest skyscraper. The Pasco County team raised nearly $10,000 to support the Lung Association’s lifesaving research, programming and advocacy for the more than 2.7 million people in Florida living with lung disease.

“Lung health and air quality are especially important for firefighters and first responders—the nature of our work puts us at a higher risk for developing lung disease,” added Chief Perez. “The Lung Association’s work is critical to us, our families and our community.”

The Fight For Air Climb Tampa brought together more than 600 participants to raise more than $171,000 for the Lung Association’s mission.

For more information about the event and to support the American Lung Association mission to save lives, visit ClimbTampa.org. For more information about firefighters and lung health, including ways to reduce risk and early warning signs of lung disease, visit Lung.org.

Thank you to Raymond James for serving as the Signature Sponsor for the Fight For Air Tampa. Thank you to our local sponsors, including Moffitt Cancer Center, LEAD Staffing, Kindred Hospital, Sunshine Health, Tobacco Free Coalition of Pinellas County, WestCMR, Florida Department of Health, 4DMedical, Go 2 Print Now and Lake Marketing Solutions. Thank you to our national corporate team partners, Kindred Hospitals and Raymond James.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., is a member of the New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of The American Lung Association.