Firefighters raise funds to fight blood cancer

Firefighters from throughout the Northwest, including right here in Sisters Country, are raising funds to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) and their fight against blood cancers.

On March 12, firefighters from Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale, and Sisters-Camp Sherman fire districts will travel to Seattle to compete in the 26th annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. In a friendly competition with a field of 2,000, our firefighters will race up 69 floors of the Columbia Center skyscraper in a timed competition, while wearing approximately 50 pounds of protective clothing and equipment.

An annual event, it is staged to raise awareness and funding for the fight against blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Firefighters from around the world compete in this event, whose requirement for entry is raising funds for LLS.

On Sunday February 26, from 3 to 8 p.m. local firefighters will be at Sisters Saloon, located on the corner of E. Cascade Ave. and N. Fir St., raising funds for this charitable organization.

Nationwide, leukemia affects more than 3,000 young people per year. Although the most common type of leukemia can affect any age group, it most commonly affects children from 2-8 years of age (kidshealth.org). According to the LLS, in 1975 the survival rate for persons suffering from leukemia was 34 percent. In 2011 (the last year for which these figures are available) the survival rate had reached over 61 percent.

Funds raised through this event go directly into research and patient support. Last year this event raised over 2 million dollars. And these funds are used here in the Northwest. In 2015 the LLS funded 10 active research projects in the Northwest to the tune of 3.6 million dollars. Over the last 15 years LLS has invested over 20 million dollars into research in the Northwest.

Local firefighters ask that people come out to Sisters Saloon on Sunday afternoon, have a snack or a meal, and support them in their efforts to raise money for this

research.

Donations can be made at any of the three local fire departments or at www.

firefighterstairclimb.org. Click on the "donate" button, then click "team" and enter "Sisters Country Fire" in the search bar.