Firefighters team up to fight cancer

Firefighters from Cloverdale Fire District, Black Butte Fire District, and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District are teaming up to fight blood cancer.

Next March is the 25th anniversary of the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. It is an event organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which brings firefighters from around the world to Seattle, Washington, to make the grueling climb up the Columbia Center tower in full firefighter protective clothing. This year marks the first year where all three Sisters Country fire departments have formed a single team to help find a cure.

The team hopes to raise a combined total of $20,000. You can expect to see firefighters around the community for the next several months with boots in hand trying to garner community support. The official kick-off to fundraising efforts will be this Saturday at the Christmas Parade, which is to be held at 2 p.m. on Main Ave.

"We are asking our Sisters Country neighbors to come out with cash in hand and stuff the boots to help those suffering from blood cancer," said team captain Damon Frutos.

In 2014, DeRew Frutos, the brother of Damon Frutos, was diagnosed with lymphoma and began undergoing treatment. In 2015, DeRew was declared cancer-free but will still need to undergo continued testing and treatment for another five years before he can be considered cured. DeRew will again be an honored patient at the upcoming event and will provide special inspiration to the team.

At 788 feet of vertical elevation, the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi. It takes 69 floors of stairs and 1,356 steps to reach the observation deck overlooking the city.

The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb supports the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising money through sponsorships, individual and department fundraising, and entry fees. In 2015, the event featured 1,900 firefighters from over 330 different departments and brought in a record $2.2 million dollars for blood-cancer research and patient services.

Get more information and donate online at www.

firefighterstairclimb.org. Click on "Donate" in the upper right-hand corner, and do a search for the Sisters Country Firefighters team.