71-Year Old Retiree Completes 100th Stair Climb for Charity
Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) August 24, 2014 -- 71-Year Old Retiree Completes 100th Stair Climb for Charity
Man Climbs and Fundraises for the American Lung Association
George Burnham reached an athletic milestone most fit 21-year olds wouldn’t dream of attempting. The 71-year old retired Phoenix electrical worker recently completed his 100th stair climb event in South Carolina, at the American Lung Association’s 2014 Fight for Air Climb Charleston. Since 1996 Burnham climbs about 200,000+ steps a year, traveling most weekends to charity fundraisers in some of the tallest skyscrapers in the country.
While others take elevators and sip cocktails at the top of Las Vegas’s Stratosphere Tower, Burnham has raced up the 108 floors and 1,455 steps of the iconic tower. The Scale the Strat Climb, also benefiting the American Lung Association, is one of his favorite stair climbs. For personal reasons, the Lung Association is one of his favorite charities. In 2014 alone Burnham has participated in Fight for Air Climbs in Atlanta; Bennington, VT; Boise, Charleston; Columbia, SC; Denver; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Minneapolis,; Oakbrook, IL; Portland, OR; Tulsa and Wichita.
“I’m a lifelong asthmatic,” Burnham says. “Before inhalers came on the market, I really struggled to breathe.” Staying fit and healthy has long been part of Burnham’s regimen for asthma control.
“I used to run up North Mountain in Phoenix, until I got older. In 1996 I switched and starting climbing buildings in Phoenix,” says Burnham. “Stair climbing is more strenuous than running, but it’s actually easier on your body.” In 2013 Burnham had bypass surgery, and with his doctor’s permission, restarted his climbing routine six weeks after surgery. “I wasn’t allowed to run up the steps for a while,” Burnham admits. “Recently my 46-year old daughter beat me at a Phoenix climb. Guess I’ll have to get used to it.”
The American Lung Association offers Fight for Air Climbs across the USA. Denver, CO climb to take place February 22, 2015. Information is at http://www.fightforairclimb.org.
About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit http://www.lung.org.
CONTACT:
Ashlie Reynoso
areynoso(at)lungs(dot)org
Cindy Liverance, American Lung Association, +1 303-847-0267, [email protected]
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