Reading resident raises funds for Lung Association

Reading, Massachusetts resident, Mark Hank is a personal trainer working at several YMCA’s in the Boston area. After having a successful career working in IT, he made the change in hopes of improving his health, his well-being and his quality of life. Mark has lost family members and friends to lung cancer and emphysema, so prioritizing his health became a vital life goal

Today, he spends his days talking to clients and classes with similar fitness goals, and one of the challenges they face together is how to stay active in winter. Luckily, six years ago Mark got involved with the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb: Race Up Boston Place – and hasn’t looked back since.

“The Fight For Air Climb is a great goal to train for, because not only is it physically challenging, but the event itself is a reminder not to take your health for granted” Mark said. “It’s also a great way to build a team and get to know others with similar health and fitness goals. You’d be surprised at the amount friendships formed at these events, based on shared experiences, shared struggles and sometimes even shared loss.”

This year Mark’s team, aptly named “One Step At A Time” has nearly 20 members and is still growing. One veteran member, Steve Nixon, will be making his 4th climb this year, in memory of his brother Nick who passed away at 69 years old in March 2014 after a five-year battle with Lung Cancer. Nick was a lifelong nonsmoker.

Steve remembers Nick daily and is proud to continue is legacy through the Fight For Air Climb. “He taught me a lot through his experience with lung cancer. He didn’t complain once. He was a hero in that he dealt with it and it didn’t define him.”

The team is returning to the event as the fundraising champions of 2016. Individually, Steve was also a top fundraiser at last year’s climb.

The Fight For Air Climb: Race Up Boston Place presented by Boston Private is one a series of signature fundraising events of the American Lung Association, held in prominent skyscrapers across the country. The Boston Fight For Air Climb will take place on February 4, 2017 at One Boston Place, where participants will run or walk up 82 flights of stairs. The event also includes a Firefighter Challenge, where members of over 100 fire departments, will race up the stairs in full firefighting gear, weighing nearly 50lbs. The Boston Climb aims to raise $500k for the Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

The One Step at a Time Team will continue to train and fundraise through the February 4th event. You can make a donation to support their team, Steve Nixon, or any of its team members visit: http://bit.ly/2hXfMw1