LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Lexington's Fraternal Order of Firefighters organized its fifth annual stair climb on Wednesday evening in remembrance of those who died on 9/11.
The event had its biggest turnout yet, with over 200 participants, and was held for the first time at Kroger Field, President of the Lexington Fraternal Order of Firefighters Todd Houston said.
It was open to all, he said, but many local firefighters and police officers participated.
Each person walked 2400 stairs along the end zone near Nicholasville Road, Houston said, a nod to the steps first responders took while at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
"This is the equivalent of as close as we can get to what they did that day," he said. "They climbed 110 stories."
The daughter of New York City firefighter, Thomas Kuveikis, who died while responding to the World Trade Center also participated in the climb.
"I did this for him," Kristen Kuveikis said.
"He's a real hero, not just to me but to everybody," she said, "and I'm really sad that my son didn't get to meet him. He's going to be ten next week and he doesn't even know his grandpa."
But it's her father, she said, that keeps her returning to this climb each year.
The proceeds from the stair climb will go to maintain police and fire monuments in downtown Lexington, Houston said.
