MOUNT FOREST – Adam Wilson, a volunteer firefighter with the Wellington North Fire Service, will be participating in the Lambton College Fire School’s 9/11 Stair Climb to recognize the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
He will be climbing 110 flights of stairs – as first responders did in the World Trade Center – in 50 pounds of bunker gear.
The event raises money for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) as well as the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation (CFFF).
Wilson’s goal is to raise $1,343 to help these foundations support families of fallen first responders and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) counselling services.
“The stair climb is going to be taking place on Saturday, Sept. 11,” Wilson said.
“It’ll be right at Lambton College at their fire training facility in Sarnia, although it will be taking place at a number of different locations.”
Wilson, originally from Arthur, attended Lambton College, where he trained to become a firefighter.
He said the stair climb event was always something he had wanted to do but was not aware of any place that held it. As soon as he heard that his alma mater was running it, he was in.
“That’s where I went to school, as a Lambton College graduate; that’s why I chose to go there,” he said.
Wilson has been a volunteer firefighter in Mount Forest for the past year and a half. Before that, he worked as a wildland firefighter in northern Saskatchewan.
Wilson will be undertaking a gruelling training schedule between now and September in order to complete the fundraiser.
“I’m going to be running 100 kilometres per month, and on top of that, I’m going to be jog-walking 10 kilometres per month with a 50-pound weighted vest on,” he explained.
Wilson said he will also be participating in boot camp classes at local fitness centres. He said travelling up 110 flights of stairs with firefighting equipment is going to be a challenge.
“The reason why I chose 110 kilometres (running plus walking) is because there were 110 stories in the World Trade Center.”
Wilson said participating in the event is a way for him to give back to the fire fighting community.
“So far I’ve had really good feedback from the community,” he said. “I posted in the Mount Forest ‘What’s Happening’ page, and in the first day I think I had around 300 likes.
“I woke up the next morning and started getting donations. I’m up to about $675 dollars now. It’s going for a really good cause.”
As a volunteer firefighter, Wilson also wanted to educate people about flashing green lights on the road.
Volunteer firefighters often use their personal vehicles, and a flashing green light indicates they are responding to an emergency call.
Since they are not emergency vehicles, they are still required to follow the rules of the road. Wilson is reminding people on the road to pull over or yield if they see a flashing green light.
“I know some people are still kind of learning,” Wilson said. “It’s more of a courtesy light, so if you see a car coming down the highway with a green flashing light, that’s a volunteer firefighter just trying to get to the fire hall. Every second counts.”
To visit Wilson’s donation page click here.
