For Immediate Release

Monday, April 1, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Firefighters Raise More Than $3,000 During Fight for Air Climb Event

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that members of the Gloucester Fire Department raised more than $3,000 during the Fight for Air Climb to benefit the American Lung Association (ALA).

This year’s event took place on March 30 at One Boston Place, 201 Washington St., Boston, and is the eighth year members of the Gloucester Fire Department have participated. The Gloucester Fire Department joined 450 other local firefighters as they climbed a Boston skyscraper with 41 floors and 789 stairs.

The Gloucester group — eight current firefighters and one retired member — beat their fundraising goal of $2,000, raising $3,059 through generous donations from participants’ families, friends and Gloucester community members.

“We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who donated to this extremely worthy cause,” Chief Smith said. “We’re honored to participate in this event every year to raise money and awareness for the ALA.”

The Fight for Air Climb is a signature fundraiser event of the ALA, and climbs are held annually in skyscrapers across the United States. Participants climb their way up hundreds of stairs with the goal of raising money to support the ALA’s lung health research, patient education, and public policy efforts.

The Gloucester Fire Department’s Fight for Air Team includes Lt. Chad Mota, Firefighter Nick Aiello, Firefighter Charlie Scola, Retired Assistant Chief Tom Aiello, Captain Jim Burke, Firefighter Tom Aldrich, EMS Coordinator Jon Sanger, Firefighter Jon Dyer and Firefighter Jim Hannon — who raised $1,000 for the team.

Overall, the Gloucester team did the best they ever have in the competition, placing eighth. Firefighter Scola placed 11th individually, with a time of 8:49.

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