Fighting For Air: Tampa Community Raises $160,000 for Lung Health

This morning, during the American Lung Association’s 19th annual Fight For Air Climb Tampa, more than 600 participants—from beginners to competitive climbers to firefighters in full gear—climbed 42 floors, 914 steps, to the top of Bank of America Plaza, Tampa’s second-tallest skyscraper. The event raised more than $160,000, and counting, 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. Raymond James served as Signature Sponsor of the Climb.

“For the past nineteen years, the Tampa Bay community has united to climb great heights for our loved ones and neighbors who are impacted by lung disease. They struggle every day for the breath that many of us take for granted,” said Beth Ash, chair of the Lung Association’s Gulf Coast Florida Board and senior manager, Corporate Accounts, at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Thank you to our participants, firefighters and first responders, volunteers and sponsors who came out today to raise more than $160,000 to save lives—with more funds still coming in. Every step we’ve taken today gets us closer to a future free of lung cancer and lung disease.”

During the opening ceremonies, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared her personal connection to lung cancer and the Lung Association’s mission. Mayor Castor is an advocate for lung cancer screenings and early detection initiatives.

Rush Roberts, Secretary of the Firemen's Benevolent Association of the City of Tampa, gave opening remarks to the more than 100 members of the firefighter division. Lung health is especially important for firefighters and first responders, because the line of duty puts them at a higher risk for developing lung disease. The Firemen’s Benevolent Association is a proud sponsor of the Fight For Air Climb Tampa.

Additionally, the Gail Porter Memorial Award, presented in partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center, was awarded to Jeff Ottman. This annual award is given to the top fundraiser in memory of Gail Porter, who made large contributions to lung cancer research before her passing in 2019. In addition to participating in multiple clinical trials with Moffitt Cancer Center, she helped kickstart Moffitt’s Legacy Tissue Donation program. The ground-breaking study is helping researchers better understand how tumors change after therapy and, ultimately, develop a cure. This is Ottman’s fourteenth year at the Tampa Climb, and he raised $5,000 in honor of his father.

Ash added: “We are grateful to Raymond James for their partnership as we strive to create a future where lung cancer and lung disease are a thing of the past.”

Funds raised from the Fight For Air Climb support the mission of the American Lung Association and its efforts to defeat lung cancer, champion clean air, improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families and create a tobacco-free future.

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.

For more information about the event and to support the American Lung Association mission to save lives, visit ClimbTampa.org.

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.