Birmingham Firefighters 'Fight for Air' During Annual Stair Climb

Sweating and wearing 70 pounds of gear, six Birmingham firefighters climbed more than 1,000 steps this weekend.

They weren't responding to a fire but they were saving lives: Birmingham's firefighters joined hundreds at Detroit's Renaissance Center on Sunday for the Fight for Air Climb Firefighter Challenge, an annual fundraiser for the American Lung Association.

Six firefighters from the Birmingham Firefighters Association, as well as one family member, participated in the challenge, led by team captain Alan Soave. In total, the team raised $2,750 for the American Lung Association, far exceeding their $500 goal.

Climbing the stairs on Sunday (with their times) for the Birmingham team were:

• Alan Soave (11 minutes, 48 seconds)
• Chris Deman (16 minutes, 4 seconds)
• Emily Donohue
• Capt. John Donohue (14 minutes, 29 seconds)
• Chris Jodoin (29 minutes, 45 seconds)
• Joseph Lakin (20 minutes, 49 seconds)
• Paul Wells (22 minutes, 38 seconds)

Overall, participants raised $234,190 during the 2013 Fight for Air Climb.