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Local NE PA Firefighters to ascend Seattle skyscraper climb for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Two local firefighters are training to Join 1500 firefighters from around the world on Sunday, March 11, 2012 to compete in the timed race up 69 floors to the top of the Columbia Center tower in Seattle, WA. The building at 788 feet of vertical elevation stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi and will take firefighters 1311 steps to reach the top. Firefighters will race to the top wearing full firefighting gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with the combined weight of all the equipment being an average of 70 pounds.
Two local firefighters are training to Join 1500 firefighters from around the world on Sunday, March 11, 2012 to compete in the timed race up 69 floors to the top of the Columbia Center tower in Seattle, WA. The building at 788 feet of vertical elevation stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi and will take firefighters 1311 steps to reach the top. Firefighters will race to the top wearing full firefighting gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with the combined weight of all the equipment being an average of 70 pounds.
Assistant Fire Chief John Yonkin of the Dushore Fire Department and Firefighter Paramedic Brian Yonkin of the Montoursville Fire Department will participate in the 21st annual Scott Firefighter Stair climb benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Joining the father and son team of racers in a support role is Tom Yonkin, Assistant Fire Chief of Sayre PA. Tom will be responsible to quickly and safely change the used air bottles of the racers for full bottles at the 40th floor of the tower. A former State Fire Instructor with over 40 years of firefighting experience, Tom is clearly qualified for this very critical role on the team.
Training for an event that requires climbing 69 floors in a geographical area where the tallest building is 10 floors does present a unique challenge.
In preparation, each has been using a specific workout regimen to train daily for the grueling event. Both firefighters are using weight training to build overall core strength and improve balance. Brian trains using the flight of stairs from the basement at the Montoursville Fire Station. In full gear he walks up the stairs and then back down until his total step count equals the steps in Seattle, 1,311. John utilizes a combination of stationary bike and a stair mill machine to train for the event. At 52 years of age he expects this to be one of the toughest “adventures” he taken on.
In preparation, each has been using a specific workout regimen to train daily for the grueling event. Both firefighters are using weight training to build overall core strength and improve balance. Brian trains using the flight of stairs from the basement at the Montoursville Fire Station. In full gear he walks up the stairs and then back down until his total step count equals the steps in Seattle, 1,311. John utilizes a combination of stationary bike and a stair mill machine to train for the event. At 52 years of age he expects this to be one of the toughest “adventures” he taken on.
“I have my good days and not so good days training” the senior Yonkin says. “My goal is to get to the top and I have no illusion about setting any records. At 26 years old Brian has a good shot of finishing under twenty minutes and that would be an excellent time,” Yonkin adds.
This will be the first time each has competed in the event, and to date the two have raised over $6000 from their sponsors. Their goal is to raise over $10,000 for the event. All the donations go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The Yonkins will take some personal motivation with them for the climb in Seattle. John and Tom’s sister Kathy was diagnosed several years ago with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Additionally, Robbie Shenk, a firefighter with the Dushore Fire Department was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. It is a tradition during the event that climbers carry a picture of the persons they are honoring on their helmet during the event. John will carry photos of Kathy as well as FF Shenk on his helmet. Brian will carry a photo of Ruth Johns of Montoursville who lost her battle with Leukemia on November 18, 2010. The team will also carry a list of their supporters with them to symbolically allow their sponsors to climb to the top of the Columbia Tower.
Recognized as the world’s largest individual firefighting competition in the world, the Scott Firefighter Stair climb is sponsored by Scott Health & Safety and attracts Firefighters to Seattle from as far away as Newfoundland, New Zealand, and Germany. In 2011, over 1500 firefighters representing over 281 departments from around the world competed in the Seattle climb that raised a record $930,000 for the Society. For more information about the climb you can visit the LLS website at http://www.llswa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FF_homepage
To become a sponsor please visit these websites. Your donation may be tax deductible.
You can also following the training preparation and how the team does during the event at John’s blog; “See you at the Top.” http://jyonkin-seeyouatthetop.blogspot.com/
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