Beverly couple climbs in 16th annual Hustle Up the Hancock

Matt and Diane Knoepke, of Beverly, climbed 94 floors in Respiratory Health Association’s 16^th annual Hustle Up the Hancock on Sunday, February 24. The charity stair climb drew more than 4,000 people to ascend John Hancock Center and raises funds and awareness for the association’s local lung disease research and programs.

Since 2010, they've climbed John Hancock Center on team “Carol’s Climbers” in honor of Matt's mom, Carol Knoepke, who had interstitial lung disease. There is no known cause for the disease, which leads to scarring of the lungs and makes it progressively harder to breathe. Carol passed away from the disease in March of 2012. This was the first year she didn’t help Matt and Diane celebrate their accomplishment.

"Her disease was not something that she could have made a different choice to avoid or something that makes sense, it just happened," Diane said. "The level of unfairness of that is hard - just as it is with all cancers and autoimmune diseases."

More than half of the climbers participate in honor or in memory of a loved one affected by lung disease such as lung cancer, COPD, asthma or pulmonary fibrosis. Together, climbers have raised nearly $1.2 million for Respiratory Health Association. Carol’s Climbers are nearing their $5,000 goal. Learn more or support the team at www.lungchicago.org/hustle.