PENHOLD - Every year since the annual Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge in Calgary began five years ago Penhold's finest have stepped up to participate with their firefighting colleagues from across North America.
In fact, tiny Penhold had the second most participants last year of any fire department taking part, sending 15, with only the City of Calgary having more participating firefighting heroes.
On May 5 nine Penhold firefighters are going to the 5th Annual Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge. The event was created in support of Wellspring Calgary to raise awareness and support for firefighters and all citizens living with cancer. However, this year's mission for Penhold firefighters is extra special and personal.
Their fire Chief Jim Pendergast is battling two types of cancer.
"I have prostate cancer which is one of the presumptive cancers in Alberta, meaning it's presumed that automatically because you're a firefighter," said Pendergast, who is now 66, and has been a firefighter for more than 40 years, including the last 10 as Penhold's chief. According to the Stairclimb Challenge’s website, 17 presumptive cancers are a recognized occupational hazard of the firefighter’s job.
"Right now we are monitoring everything and doing blood tests and CT scans," he said, adding the cancer was discovered last fall and confirmed in January. He is not yet receiving treatment.
"As long as the monthly blood tests are staying the same, which they are, that is good. The CT scans show there are two spots on the prostate and as long as they are not moving or growing we are going to just monitor and we will see from there," said Pendergast. "I also had liver surgery last summer. I have two cancers of my liver, and right now we are monitoring that as well. I did go through one round of chemo in January."
The nine Penhold finest will be joined in Calgary by hundreds of firefighters from across North America. They are tasked with ascending the 55-storey Bow building's 775 vertical feet – 1,204 steps — in full firefighter duty gear, including air packs without a face mask. Organizers for the stairclimb say top racers finish in as little as 11 minutes, while the average participant takes about 25 minutes.
Most importantly, however, all money raised by the participating firefighters will go to Wellspring Calgary.
Senior Penhold firefighter Mackenzie (Max) Johnston is going to the Calgary stairclimb for the third time, and with Chief Pendergast battling cancer the mission has become deeply personal for everyone at the local fire hall.
"It is very important this year for us. With the chief having cancer it has motivated us all. We have somebody to climb for this year," he said. "I think with everybody going they are going to be pushing a little bit harder just for chief this year."
"I think it is a really good event," he added. "The City of Red Deer has some guys going, and Red Deer County as well. Everybody has a lot of fun with it, and it goes to a good charity."
Pendergast is not sure he will be able to join his firefighters in Calgary on May 5. Nevertheless, he's proud of the nine men and women for volunteering their time to train and be a part of the event, which in five years has raised so much awareness of the sacrifice firefighters make every time they take a call for lifesaving service.
"We know that the rates of cancer in firefighters is extremely high in Alberta and across Canada and across North America," said Pendergast. "Last summer was tough going through the surgery and recovery, and my firefighters just stepped up and did everything for me. They are such a great group of firefighters, men and women -- just outstanding. It's hard to believe how lucky I am to have these firefighters.
"We have gone every year there has been a stairclimb, every single year," added the chief. "Any time there is a cause or anything the firefighters just step up and do it. "
Any citizen in Penhold or in the region who wishes to donate to the cause for the stairclimb can contact the Penhold Fire Department at 403-886-4553. For more information on the 5th Annual Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge visit the website at https://calgarystairclimb.com.
