By SALINA POST
The Salina Fire Department is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Central Kansas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and 5K Family Fun Walk, “Steps of Hope,” at the Kansas Wesleyan University campus on Sunday, Sept. 29.
The event will be held at JRI Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex. There will be two events leading up to the stair climb and a post-climb event, “Live from The Lot,” featuring great entertainment at Long McArthur Ford.
The Central Kansas 9/11 Stair Climb and 5K Family Fun Walk allows civic leaders and citizens from Salina and across Kansas to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001.
For 2024, SFD has partnered with the Love Chloe Foundation, which will receive a portion of the proceeds from the stair climb. The NFFF and Love Chloe are 501(c)(3) organizations.
This event presents a unique opportunity for the entire community to unite in honoring the memory of the heroes of 9/11.
“It's a chance to show support for families facing childhood cancer diagnosis by providingimmediate financial and family support, raising awareness, and contributing to the funding of childhood cancer research,” a release from SFD reads.
SFD is extremely fortunate and thankful this year to have the support of Long McArthur Ford, which is hosting “Live from The Lot,” in support of the NFFF for 2024.
“Live from the Lot”will follow the stair climb/walk, and the gates open at 4:00 p.m. on September 29. Additionally, Great Life Salina has been a great community partner and will host the “Evening to Always Remember.”
The Central Kansas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & 5K Family Fun Walk are not about competition. They are about the entire community—including firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, families, and friends coming together to honor and remember those who served and sacrificed that day.
Each local and regional participant will honor the fallen by carrying the name badge of one of the 343 firefighters. Pre-registered participants will also receive a complimentary 9/11 Stair Climb / Family Fun Walk t-shirt to commemorate their time at the event.
There are two preceding events before the 2024 Central Kansas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and 5K Family Fun Walk.
The first is on Wednesday, September 11, with a “Tribute to Heroes Memorial Service” at Fire Station 1, 222 W. Elm Street, at 8:00 a.m. Later that evening, SFD will hold an “EVENING TO ALWAYS REMEMBER” from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Great Life Golf & Fitness, 1800 S. Marymount Rd., Salina, KS 67401. The cost is $10.00 with a cash bar. Martinelli’s Little Italy will provide the food, and Tony Bowell will provide music for attendees listening pleasure.
For stair climb details, visit https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/centralkansas24.
For “Live from The Lot” tickets, visit www.longmcarthur.com.