Guide
How to Organize a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb: A Guide
A 9/11 memorial stair climb turns fitness into remembrance. Climbers ascend 110 stories — the height of each Twin Tower — carrying the name of one of the 343 FDNY firefighters killed on September 11, 2001. Here's how to organize one in your community.
Why 110 stories?
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center each stood 110 stories tall. On September 11, 2001, 343 FDNY firefighters climbed those stairwells in full turnout gear to save civilians and never came back down. A memorial stair climb of 110 stories — repeated flights in a stadium, high-rise, or fitness center — honors that ascent step for step. Every climber typically carries the name and photo of one of the 343 so the tribute stays personal, not abstract.
1. Pick a venue that can safely deliver 110 stories
You need enough stairwell to add up to 110 stories per climber. Common venues: a downtown office tower (usually 20–40 floors, climbed 3–5 times), a football or baseball stadium, a fire academy training tower, or a hotel with a tall service stairwell. Talk to building management early — you'll need after-hours access, a certificate of insurance from your host organization, and a clear evacuation plan. Confirm HVAC and lighting will be on in the stairwell for the full event window.
2. Set the date and cap registration
Most climbs are held on the Saturday or Sunday closest to September 11. Start planning six months out. Cap registration at a number your stairwell can safely rotate — usually 100–300 climbers, released in waves 5–10 minutes apart so the stairwell never gets crowded. Sell tickets in tiers: an individual climber ($40–$60), a team of 5 ($200–$300), and a sponsor climber tier ($100+) that includes an event t-shirt and hero card.
3. Assign a hero to every climber
The heart of the event is the hero card. Every registered climber gets a lanyard with the name, photo, rank, and firehouse of one of the 343 FDNY firefighters killed on 9/11. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and NYC Fire Museum both publish the full list. Ring a bell when a climber finishes and read their hero's name over the PA — it turns a workout into a memorial.
4. Registration and check-in logistics
Use a simple online form (name, email, emergency contact, t-shirt size, team name if applicable) and a payment processor that handles nonprofit receipts. On event morning, run two check-in lines: one for pre-registered climbers with printed bibs, one for walk-ups. Hand out hero cards at check-in, not at the stairwell entrance, so climbers have time to read their hero's story before starting.
5. Safety plan and medical support
110 stories is a serious cardiovascular effort. Require every climber to sign a waiver and self-attest to fitness. Station at least one EMT or paramedic at the top and bottom of the climb, and place a hydration table and rest bench every 25–30 floors. Firefighters climbing in full turnout gear (about 45 lbs) need longer recovery — build in mandatory water stops for that group. Have a clear bail-out plan: any climber who steps out is done, no restart.
6. Recruit sponsors and in-kind support
Local businesses, IAFF locals, and firefighter equipment vendors are your first calls. Typical sponsor tiers: title sponsor ($5,000+ — logo on shirts and banners), gear sponsor ($1,000 — logo on hero cards), and hydration sponsor ($500 — signage at water stations). In-kind sponsors matter as much as cash: bottled water, bananas and bagels, printed banners, EMT coverage, and a PA system are the difference between a rough event and a professional one.
7. Choose a beneficiary and be transparent about proceeds
Climbers give more when they know exactly where the money goes. Pick a single 501(c)(3) — a firefighter widows-and-orphans fund, a burn foundation, or a nonprofit that supports injured first responders and their families, like the Firefighters Care Foundation (EIN 41-3310497). Publish the beneficiary on the registration page, on the shirts, and in the closing remarks. After the event, post a public total raised and where it went; that's how you turn one-time climbers into repeat participants.
8. Marketing and community outreach
Ninety days out: launch the registration page and email your local firehouses, IAFF locals, CrossFit gyms, and running clubs. Sixty days out: post on local news community calendars and reach out to the fire section of your regional paper — 9/11 stair climbs are a reliable local-news story every September. Thirty days out: share climber stories on social media, especially climbers doing it in memory of a specific hero. The week of: send press releases with photos from prior years and a clear "how to watch or support" call to action.
9. Day-of run of show
A typical schedule: 7:00 AM check-in opens, 7:45 AM opening ceremony with a piper and the reading of the FDNY roll, 8:00 AM first wave of climbers steps off, waves every 10 minutes until 9:30 AM. Ring a bell at 9:59 AM (the moment the South Tower fell) and observe a moment of silence. Closing remarks and photos wrap by 11:30 AM. Keep it tight — climbers are tired, families are hungry, and short events get better word-of-mouth.
10. Community impact after the finish line
The event is one day; the impact is year-round. Send every climber a thank-you email with the total raised, a photo with their hero card, and a save-the-date for next year. Ask sponsors for feedback and lock in returning sponsors for next year within 30 days. Post a public event report — hero photos, climber quotes, fundraising total — so future participants and sponsors can see what they'd be joining. A well-run first year makes year two easier, and year three sells out.
Support the Firefighters Care Foundation
FCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by five firefighters. We help sick children, injured first responders, and families in crisis. If you're organizing a stair climb and looking for a beneficiary, or if you want to support one already on the calendar, we’d be honored to hear from you.