Summit Firefighter Climbs 41 Stories In Full Gear For Charity

SUMMIT, NJ — Racing up 41 stories alone is quite a feat but to tackle that while wearing 100 pounds of firefighter gear is incredible.

And that’s exactly what Summit Firefighter Thomas Penn did.

Penn participated in the Fight for Air Climb in Boston, Massachusetts on Feb. 3, which is an annual event benefiting the American Lung Association. Overall, the Fight for Air Climb raised $375,000 for the American Lung Association.

Wearing full protective gear that weighs about 100 pounds, Penn climbed 41 stories in nine minutes, 50 seconds, finishing in 32nd place out of 400 participants. It was his best time yet in the past four years.

This was Penn’s second time racing in Boston. He participates in the event every year in New York City too.

As an avid runner, Penn liked the idea of a challenge.

“I always love doing any type of charity I can,” Penn said. “This is particularly more difficult harder than running a 5K or 10K.”

To get ready, Penn will run and then about two months out he will use the stairmaster at the gym even training in his gear at times.

“I will tell you what, the first 10 stories are fun, the 10 stories afterwards are difficult and then the last 20 stories you are fighting to just get up to the top,” Penn said. “But when you get up to top, it’s an awesome feeling.”

To learn more about the Fight For Air Climb or to find an upcoming event click here.

(Image via Summit City: Thomas Penn)

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