18 flights of stairs means more than good exercise for some Utahns


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SALT LAKE CITY — It's been decades since firefighters in Utah have needed to climb to the top of a downtown high-rise, but they did it Saturday because they wanted to.

Carrying nearly 80 pounds of gear, guys and gals in uniform from crews around the state dashed up 18 flights of stairs — 372 steps — at the Zions Bank building at City Creek.

"Anything to make us healthier," said Salt Lake City Fire Capt. Dave Chugg.

He's participated in the American Lung Association's annual Fight for Air Climb every year since it began, and he's taken home the first-place prize at least five of those times.

Chugg said adding gear to the friendly fitness competition makes it more "realistic." He uses the results to gauge which firefighters to send where in case of an actual emergency or fire.

"Our slowest guy is around 5 minutes," he said.

The team of 16 finished fourth, behind West Jordan and Hill Air Force Base fire departments. Park City took home top honors, much to Chugg's chagrin.

While crew members spend the morning trying to best their peers, others join in the vertical run for more personal reasons.


When you see them struggling just to get a breath in, it changes your life.

–Candy Hendrix, South Ogden runner


"I work really hard to keep my lungs healthy," said South Ogden resident Candy Hendrix, who lost a sister to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease last year. Their mother also died of the same debilitating lung disease years ago.

"When you see them struggling just to get a breath in, it changes your life," Hendrix said.

While both her family members smoked during parts of their lives, she said the disease can affect people based on their genetics or environment and can be caused by polluted air.

Hendrix said the 18 flights of stairs was a rough haul, but she finished in under 6 minutes. Then she and her friend and fundraising partner Brenda Encheff, of Sandy, ran them all a second time. The two are training to run a half-marathon together come spring.

In all, 217 people participated in Saturday's climb, proceeds of which go toward programs sponsored by the local chapter of the American Lung Association. The fastest male runner made the climb in 2 minutes, 4 seconds, while the female winner made it in 3 minutes flat.

The organization heads up an asthma camp each year for kids, as well as a couple anti-smoking and smoking cessation programs for Utah teens. The group also works with other organizations to find solutions to combat Utah's sporadic but particularly poor air quality.

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Wendy Leonard

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