OXON HILL, Md. — Roughly 500 people took part in the National Capital Region 9/11 Stair Climb and 5k Walk Saturday morning at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor.
These participants from all across the D.C. area raised money that will go to support the families of the 343 New York firefighters who died during on 9/11.
“It consists of climbing 110 flights, symbolically equaling the World Trade Center,” said Prince George’s County Assistant Fire Chief Gary Krichbaum. “In addition to that, we have a three-mile walk representing the three different areas that were hit that day.”
Krichbaum said most of the participants do the stair climb.
In terms of participants, it is a mix of local firefighters and supporters who turned out for the event.
“Right now, we’re probably cresting the $30,000 mark,” Krichbaum said. “With walk-up registrations and other activities, we’ll probably be reach about $40,000 in total.”
The assistant fire chief said this is the seventh year of the event — the fifth at National Harbor. It began in Denver, Colorado, as a way to honor those fallen firefighters.
Similar events are held across the country with the same goal of raising money for the families of those who have died in the line of duty.
