Climbing for the Cure

SEATTLE – Waitsburg High School graduate and Spokane Valley Paramedic Brad Huffman topped his personal best time by two minutes to place 100th out of nearly1800 firefighters participating in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb at Columbia Center in Seattle on Sunday.

Huffman, son of Dena Wood of Waitsburg, climbed 69 flights of stairs (1,311 steps and 788 ft. of vertical elevation), in full firefighter gear, in 15:49 minutes. Huffman said first-time Spokane Valley climb participant, Joseph Connelley, earned an amazing 19th place in the climb.

The climb is a timed race that raises money to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Firefighters solicit sponsorships before the race. Huffman raised $1,200, personally and said his team of Spokane Valley firefighters raised approximately $15,000. Huffman said the event raised over $2.2 million for cancer research this year.

Huffman climbed in support of Jocelin Hough, daughter of WHS grad Amanda (Banks) Hough, who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia last year, at age four. He carried Jocelin's photo in his hat.

This is Huffman's fifth year to participate in the race. He attributed his improved time to training for an upcoming half ironman race to raise funds for the Anna Schindler Foundation, started by a fellow firefighter who lost his daughter to cancer. To learn more or donate visit http://www.crowdrise.com/bradhuffman1.