Rockaway Team Raises More Than $10K for Stair Climb
Team RBNY-18 will never forget 9/11. On Sunday, October 15, Rockaway’s team once again participated in the National Stair Climb, raising nearly $10,700 for the event.
Leaving from Rogers on Beach 116th Street, more than 30 locals went to Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing to climb 2,200 steps, symbolizing the 110 stories of the World Trade Center Towers, the same climb FDNY firefighters did on September 11, 2001, in which 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice. In honor of that climb, each year the National Stair Climb is held to pay tribute to the fallen and to raise funds for those who continue to struggle.
Rockaway’s Team RBNY-18 honors the 18 first responders from the community who died that day. The locals carry photo IDs of those first responders as they make the climb. Money raised goes toward the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.
This year, Team RBNY-18 was able to raise, $10,670.74, with some of the biggest fundraisers being Captain Jen Fabry, retired firefighter John Burke and Theresa Macklin, all raising more than $1,000.
After the climb, the crew headed back to Rogers to celebrate. “On behalf of Team RBNY-18, I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the Rockaway community who helped us meet (and exceed) our fundraising goal,” Captain Fabry said after the event.