Gadsden to host first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

Remember: 110 stories, 2,071 steps.

Those numbers are seared into history as what it took to get from the top to the bottom, or vice versa, of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers that were destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

In the two-plus decades since, first responders and just plain folks across the country have commemorated that dark event and paid tribute to the 343 New York City firefighters who died that day by finding a way to experience that climb, whether in other high-rise buildings, indoor arenas or outdoor stadiums.

Gadsden area residents will have a chance to do it for the first time on Sept. 14, as the Gadsden Fire Department hosts its inaugural 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Gadsden City High School's Titan Stadium.

“The firefighters approached me about doing one,” said Gadsden Fire Chief Wil Reed. “We approached the city and they've supported us on this.”

Reed said there' will be a path marked at the stadium encompassing all of the bleachers on both the home and visitors' sides of the stadium for participants who want the full 110-story, 2,071-step experience.

Those who aren't up to such a climb, but want to participate, can take part in a 3.43-mile walk that doesn't include any stairs.

The entry fee is $35 and will go to the fire department's annual Toys from Santa initiative, which helped provide Christmas gifts for some 500 children in Gadsden last year. Participants can register at https://bit.ly/4cELiqp ,

Reed said interest has been high, but they want to limit it to 150 participants this year.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs have since 2010 beein an initiative of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

According to FireRescue1.com , the first such climb in the U.S. took place in 2004 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with firefighters climbing up and down the stairs of the 22-story Bank of Albuquerque five times.

Colorado firefighters from Denver and Castle Rock held a similar event the following year, but by 2009, interest had grown to such a level that the public was invited to take part for the first time in the U.S., and the climb was switched to the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

“I am happy to see the fire department taking on this event so our community can come together and remember the brave heroes from the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001,” Mayor Craig Ford said. “My daughter and son-in-law had experienced one of these stair climb events and suggested we offer it in Gadsden and when I talked to Chief Reed, he didn’t hesitate because our firemen had also asked about it before. So, we hope everyone will join us in honoring the lives of those who were lost on 9/11. This is one more way we can make sure our country never forgets."

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden to host first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb