Firefighters climb stairs for 9/11 fundraiser

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Almost 400 people climbed the stairs at Laketown Wharf on Saturday during the fourth annual Panama City Beach 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb.

“It’s an honor to be able to climb for the brothers and sisters of this service and raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation,” said Doug Remmel with Ponce de Leon Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

Remmel suited up in full firefighter’s gear before joining other participants to climb the 22-story condo building five times to equal the 110 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center that collapsed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Lt. Terry Parris with Panama City Beach Fire Rescue said 396 people climbed the stairs this year, a bit more than the 353 who climbed last year.

Parris couldn’t confirm a final total raised Saturday afternoon, but said he knew more than $20,000 had been donated to benefit the families of fallen New York firefighters served by the foundation’s mental health unit.

The event drew firefighters from all over the Southeast as well as law officers, fitness buffs and others.

“We do it not only to remember 9/11, but everybody that’s out there protecting us,” Parris said. “Every day you have police officers, firefighters, medical responders and military fighting terrorism.”