Climbing for a Cure Hits Close to Home

SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Rural Fire District SLRFD volunteers Shawn Ellinghouse and Kristy Pohlman participated in their fourth Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, Wash. March 6. This year they carried to the top a local SLRFD member's fiancé's name on their helmets who'd been diagnosed with lymphoma the Wednesday before Ellinghouse and Pohlman left.

Pohlman and Ellinghouse, along with 1,900 other firefighters, including 175 women, raced 788 vertical feet and 1,311 steps to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle in full bunker gear. This is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS is the world's largest non-profit health organization, which is dedicated to finding a cure and providing patient assistance and education for lymphoma, leukemia and other blood cancers.

"It was awesome," said Pohlman who started training with Ellinghouse in October.

Both Ellinghouse and Pohlman reached their goals and beat their times from last year. Ellinghouse finished in 27:26, six minutes faster than last year and Pohlman beat her time by 11 minutes, finishing in 36:45.

Pohlman talked to the organizer for the climb and had her made an honoree for the climb. There was an honoree at every single flight. Pohlman stopped at each one to pay tribute.

"My 30 minutes of pain is nothing compared to the battle [each one of the honorees] fought," said Pohlman.

Ellinghouse said she was on his mind the whole climb.

"If we can put ourselves through this much agony for five, 10, 15, 20 minutes, it is nothing compared to the pain they go through in the fight for their lives," said Ellinghouse.

The climb estimates they will raise $1.5 million by the end of March. The couple's goal is to raise $1,000 each for the Society for Cancer Research. They are only about $200 shy of their goal with a few weeks left until the March 30 cut-off. To donate, visit firefighterstairclimb.org and click the donate button in the top right-hand corner. Then search for either Kristy Pohlman or Shawn Ellinghouse.

"It was a great year and we can't wait to go back next year," said Pohlman. Both of their goals are to beat their time from this year.

 

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