By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was an arduous task, but they accomplished it. With high heat and humidity, local first responders accomplished the task of climbing 110 stories at today’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Henry County High School Patriot Stadium.
In the process, they raised $1,000 for the Fallen Firefighters Association. Organizer Blake Stewart said the money raised ‘will support scholarships for kids that have a fallen parent as well as for line of duty death prevention.”
Stewart said, “We will be climbing again next year and are hoping to make it bigger for the 20th anniversary. It was not a easy task to accomplish but we all stuck together until we got it done.”
Twenty-six first responders participated and Stewart gave a ‘big shout out’ to the Cottage Grove Volunteer Fire Dept, Puryear Volunteer Fire Dept, Paris Landing Volunteer Fire Dept, Oakland Volunteer Fire Dept, Clarksburg Fire Dept, Henry Volunteer Fire Dept, Springville Volunteer Fire Dept, Mansfield Volunteer Fire Dept, Carroll County Rescue, Hollow Roack and Mixie Vol Fire Dept and the Paris Police Dept’, all of which had individuals particpate.
Stewart also thanked Bethel University for the snack packs and the individuals who donated water and soft drinks.
Photo: First responders climb the stairs at Patriot Stadium while others rest for their next climbs. (Shannon McFarlin photo).