Firefighters, families and first responders climb Red Rocks stairs in annual 9/11 stair climb event
Around 2,200 participants ascended Red Rocks Amphitheatre’s challenging stairs for the 17th annual Colorado 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, many donning full fire protective garb on a warm September day in Morrison, Colo. This year’s event was the largest in the country and raised around $110,000 for two charities—FDNY Counseling Services Unit and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
The event is one of few open to the public, and many family, friends and curious parkgoers watched as participants completed over ten loops of the concert venue, equaling the 110 stories that firefighters climbed in the World Trade Center.
“[Red Rocks] has been great partners [with us] all along. They were more than happy to host us and they just keep inviting us back every year and we’re so grateful for their generosity,” Shawn Duncan, an organizer and West Metro firefighter, said.
The partnership, now in its 17th year, started out of necessity, according to Duncan. Before the switch to Red Rocks, the event was held at 1999 Broadway in Denver, but quickly outgrew the space.
“That climb became very popular and outgrew the capacity for it,” Duncan added.
Nationwide, 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events like the one at Red Rocks will raise around $1.4 million for charities benefitting first responders and their families.
