Clearview, Wash. – This Sunday nine firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 7 will race up 69 floors of the Columbia Center in Seattle to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The 24th annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb features firefighters from all over the world as they climb 1,311 steps in full bunker gear.

“This year we continue our tradition of climbing in honor of Colton Matter,” said firefighter and team captain Bill Ekse, who is participating in the event for his 17th year. “Colton has been fighting high-risk leukemia for 6 years, and despite all he has been through, he has an extremely uplifting and positive attitude. We are proud to climb in his honor.”

Two weeks after the firefighter climb, Colton’s Army will participate in the “Big Climb.” Colton’s family and friends will climb the 1,311 steps of the Columbia Center in an effort to raise $150,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The “Big Climb” is open to the general public and is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s largest fundraiser, raising $2.42 million in 2014. To make a tax deductible donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of Colton’s Army please visit: http://www.llswa.org/site/TR/Events/BigClimb?team_id=58148&pg=team&fr_id=1460.

Fire District 7 firefighters participating in the firefighter climb include: Tyler Compton, Bill Ekse, Ryan Englund, Jessica Hanna, Jeremy Karapostoles, Sam Langheld, Matt Nuttbrock, Joe Pereira, and Justyn Shevlin. To make a tax deductible donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of the Fire District 7 team please visit: http://www.llswa.org/site/TR/Events/FirefighterStairclimb?team_id=58218&pg=team&fr_id=1453.