Gotta climb 'em all!!
Donation protected
Please make a $10, $15, or $20 donation to help raise awareness and funds for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, American Lung Association -Oakbrook, Respiratory Health Association , and American Lung Association - Chicago
Thank you so much.
About The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is the nation’s #1 ranked provider of comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation care to patients from around the world and is the leader in research and development of the most cutting-edge treatments and technologies in its field. Through aggressive medical protocols, RIC guides the patient care process toward a better patient outcome – involving repair, regeneration, and recovery of brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal function.
RIC holds an unparalleled market distinction with a record six federal research designations awarded and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education’s National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the areas of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological rehabilitation, outcomes research and rehabilitation engineering research. RIC operates a 183-bed hospital and “R&D center” in downtown Chicago, as well as a network of 34 sites of care distributed throughout the Midwestern region, through which it delivers inpatient, day rehabilitation and outpatient services.
Founded in 1954, RIC has been designated the “#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991. RIC sets the standard of care in the post-acute care market through its innovative applied research and discovery programs, particularly in the areas of neuroscience, bionic medicine, musculoskeletal medicine and technology transfer.
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The CF Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and nearly every CF-specific drug available today was made possible with our financial support. We are a donor-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance program.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.
About Lurie Children’s
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked as the top children’s hospital in Illinois and one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report 2016-2017 rankings. Lurie Children’s is also the only children’s hospital in the state to make the “Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll” for five years in a row.
Located in downtown Chicago on the campus of its academic partner, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Lurie Children’s provides superior pediatric care in a state-of-the-art hospital that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, family-friendly design and research through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
In 2015, Lurie Children’s:
Cared for more children than any other pediatric hospital in Illinois.
Treated children from 46 countries and all 50 states.
Performed more than 18,000 surgeries.
Conducted 235 clinical trials.
The health and well-being of children have been at the heart of the hospital’s mission since 1882. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic support to care for more than 173,000 children each year
About Respiratory Health Association
Dedicated to Community Lung Health Since 1906
Respiratory Health Association has been a public health leader in metropolitan Chicago since 1906. Today, we address asthma, COPD, lung cancer, tobacco control and air quality with a comprehensive approach involving research, education and advocacy activities.
Respiratory Health Association's mission is to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change.
Our research program funds local researchers as they study predictors, develop treatments, and seek cures for lung diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer. We also host a number of educational events for health care providers and convene advisory councils for lung cancer and COPD to share new information and address community lung health concerns.
In our work with schools, childcare providers, community organizations and local businesses, we educate people about asthma management strategies, offer flu vaccinations and provide smoking cessation counseling. Our wide range of community partnerships is fundamental to the success of our education initiatives.
To supplement community-based research and programming efforts, Respiratory Health Association advocates for lung-friendly polices throughout Chicago, Illinois and the United States. With the help of community volunteers, the organization has been influential in passing legislation for smoke-free environments, limiting the deadly air pollution generated by power plants and diesel vehicles, and protecting the right of children to carry life-saving asthma inhalers at school.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.
The Lung Association provides support and education for those living with asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and fighting external threats to lung health such as tobacco, air pollution, and more.
Your generous donations make our work possible.
About Fight for Air Climbs
The Fight For Air Climb is one of the signature fundraising events of the American Lung Association. The Climbs are held in prominent skyscrapers and other buildings across the country, giving participants the opportunity to join together with friends, family and co-workers as they climb the stairs of the building to the top! The Climb has been taking place for more than a decade and has raised more than $40 million to support the mission of the American Lung Association.
More than 30,000 participants from 51 Climb events across the country came together last year to raise more than $8 million. This year, you can raise money to support research, patient education and advocacy efforts.
The Fight For Air Climbs vary in the number of flights and stairs to climb, but each event offers an opportunity for teams and individuals to challenge themselves. Whether you are climbing as a part of a healthy lifestyle, to beat your previous time or in honor of all those who are affected by lung disease, you will achieve a sense of personal accomplishment as you reach the top of the building and the height of your fundraising potential. Every step you take moves us forward in our fight for healthy lungs and clean air.
About me
My name is Bonnie Wedington and I am a stair climber. As of March 2016, I have participated in 40 stair climbs since 2008, in the Chicago area.
After training for and participating in my first stair climb (Hustle up the Hancock, February 2008, Hancock Building), I fell back into being inactive and unmotivated. I decided, after seeing a commercial for a weight loss program, to sign up for my work place/on site weight loss program. I knew I couldn’t do it by myself.
In one of the first few meetings I attended, the discussion leader mentioned she had registered for a stair climb, November 2008 - Go Vertical Sears Tower (now Willis Tower). Immediately my interest was piqued as I had already done a climb and was delighted to hear there were other stair climb events (Step Up for Kids – Aon Building; Fight for Air – Presidential Towers). Also, I knew I needed something to keep me interested and active during my journey of weight loss.
Since 2008 I have trained for and participated in stair climb events. It’s become my late fall – winter activity. In 2009 I accomplished my goal weight and with some ups and downs, in life and in weight, I kept the weight off and maintained my goal weight.
I have formed friendships and with each climb event I meet new friends. And I have been tremendously inspired by climbers of varying abilities; recovering and rehabilitating climbers, sight impaired climbers, those climbing with prosthesis/ braces/canes, those climbing with breathing issues and difficulties. The stair climbing community is supportive, encouraging, and inspiring.
Stair climbing is as mental as it is physical. It is equally important to have a positive mental attitude as it is to train consistently and hard. It is also important to support and encourage other climbers in particular and people in general, and thank and appreciate those who are inspirational.
My sincerest thank you and I hope to see you on the stairs,
Bonnie
Bonnie Takes the Stairs
Thank you so much.
About The Rehabilitation Institute of ChicagoThe Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is the nation’s #1 ranked provider of comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation care to patients from around the world and is the leader in research and development of the most cutting-edge treatments and technologies in its field. Through aggressive medical protocols, RIC guides the patient care process toward a better patient outcome – involving repair, regeneration, and recovery of brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal function.
RIC holds an unparalleled market distinction with a record six federal research designations awarded and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education’s National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the areas of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological rehabilitation, outcomes research and rehabilitation engineering research. RIC operates a 183-bed hospital and “R&D center” in downtown Chicago, as well as a network of 34 sites of care distributed throughout the Midwestern region, through which it delivers inpatient, day rehabilitation and outpatient services.
Founded in 1954, RIC has been designated the “#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991. RIC sets the standard of care in the post-acute care market through its innovative applied research and discovery programs, particularly in the areas of neuroscience, bionic medicine, musculoskeletal medicine and technology transfer.
About the Cystic Fibrosis FoundationThe CF Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and nearly every CF-specific drug available today was made possible with our financial support. We are a donor-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance program.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.
About Lurie Children’sAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked as the top children’s hospital in Illinois and one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report 2016-2017 rankings. Lurie Children’s is also the only children’s hospital in the state to make the “Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll” for five years in a row.
Located in downtown Chicago on the campus of its academic partner, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Lurie Children’s provides superior pediatric care in a state-of-the-art hospital that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, family-friendly design and research through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
In 2015, Lurie Children’s:
Cared for more children than any other pediatric hospital in Illinois.
Treated children from 46 countries and all 50 states.
Performed more than 18,000 surgeries.
Conducted 235 clinical trials.
The health and well-being of children have been at the heart of the hospital’s mission since 1882. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic support to care for more than 173,000 children each year
About Respiratory Health AssociationDedicated to Community Lung Health Since 1906
Respiratory Health Association has been a public health leader in metropolitan Chicago since 1906. Today, we address asthma, COPD, lung cancer, tobacco control and air quality with a comprehensive approach involving research, education and advocacy activities.
Respiratory Health Association's mission is to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change.
Our research program funds local researchers as they study predictors, develop treatments, and seek cures for lung diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer. We also host a number of educational events for health care providers and convene advisory councils for lung cancer and COPD to share new information and address community lung health concerns.
In our work with schools, childcare providers, community organizations and local businesses, we educate people about asthma management strategies, offer flu vaccinations and provide smoking cessation counseling. Our wide range of community partnerships is fundamental to the success of our education initiatives.
To supplement community-based research and programming efforts, Respiratory Health Association advocates for lung-friendly polices throughout Chicago, Illinois and the United States. With the help of community volunteers, the organization has been influential in passing legislation for smoke-free environments, limiting the deadly air pollution generated by power plants and diesel vehicles, and protecting the right of children to carry life-saving asthma inhalers at school.
About the American Lung AssociationThe American Lung Association is the leading organization dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.
The Lung Association provides support and education for those living with asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and fighting external threats to lung health such as tobacco, air pollution, and more.
Your generous donations make our work possible.
About Fight for Air ClimbsThe Fight For Air Climb is one of the signature fundraising events of the American Lung Association. The Climbs are held in prominent skyscrapers and other buildings across the country, giving participants the opportunity to join together with friends, family and co-workers as they climb the stairs of the building to the top! The Climb has been taking place for more than a decade and has raised more than $40 million to support the mission of the American Lung Association.
More than 30,000 participants from 51 Climb events across the country came together last year to raise more than $8 million. This year, you can raise money to support research, patient education and advocacy efforts.
The Fight For Air Climbs vary in the number of flights and stairs to climb, but each event offers an opportunity for teams and individuals to challenge themselves. Whether you are climbing as a part of a healthy lifestyle, to beat your previous time or in honor of all those who are affected by lung disease, you will achieve a sense of personal accomplishment as you reach the top of the building and the height of your fundraising potential. Every step you take moves us forward in our fight for healthy lungs and clean air.
About meMy name is Bonnie Wedington and I am a stair climber. As of March 2016, I have participated in 40 stair climbs since 2008, in the Chicago area.
After training for and participating in my first stair climb (Hustle up the Hancock, February 2008, Hancock Building), I fell back into being inactive and unmotivated. I decided, after seeing a commercial for a weight loss program, to sign up for my work place/on site weight loss program. I knew I couldn’t do it by myself.
In one of the first few meetings I attended, the discussion leader mentioned she had registered for a stair climb, November 2008 - Go Vertical Sears Tower (now Willis Tower). Immediately my interest was piqued as I had already done a climb and was delighted to hear there were other stair climb events (Step Up for Kids – Aon Building; Fight for Air – Presidential Towers). Also, I knew I needed something to keep me interested and active during my journey of weight loss.
Since 2008 I have trained for and participated in stair climb events. It’s become my late fall – winter activity. In 2009 I accomplished my goal weight and with some ups and downs, in life and in weight, I kept the weight off and maintained my goal weight.
I have formed friendships and with each climb event I meet new friends. And I have been tremendously inspired by climbers of varying abilities; recovering and rehabilitating climbers, sight impaired climbers, those climbing with prosthesis/ braces/canes, those climbing with breathing issues and difficulties. The stair climbing community is supportive, encouraging, and inspiring.
Stair climbing is as mental as it is physical. It is equally important to have a positive mental attitude as it is to train consistently and hard. It is also important to support and encourage other climbers in particular and people in general, and thank and appreciate those who are inspirational.
My sincerest thank you and I hope to see you on the stairs,
Bonnie
Bonnie Takes the Stairs
Organizer
Bonnie Wedington
Organizer
Chicago, IL
