Fight for Air climbs up Tampa's Bank of America building
Cancer survivor does third Fight for Air climb. For the 19th year, Tampa will host the Fight for Air Climb at the Bank of America building on April 6. The climb, which involves a 43-flight climb, is one of Tampa's tallest buildings and over 900 steps. Participants, such as Carrie Deaner, are raising money for the American Lung Association and are sharing their personal experiences to inspire others to fight lung cancer. Deaner was diagnosed with lung cancer non-smoking small cell carcinoma in 2020 and has been cancer-free for four years. She is also a personal trainer at Powerhouse Gym in Trinity.
Published : a month ago by Roy De Jesus in Finance
TAMPA, Fla. — For the 19th year Tampa will host the Fight for Air Climb at the Bank of America building on April 6.
It's a grueling climb up one of Tampa's tallest buildings.
The people doing it have a personal story to tell about why they're doing it.
It is inspirational and makes them feel good.
For the last few weeks, Carrie Deaner has been sneaking into the Bank of America building in Downtown Tampa.
On a Saturday in February, she brought friends for her practice climb.
She is not really sneaking in but more like taking the steps to be ready.
"This is 43 flights,” Deaner said. “It's over 900 steps. It's the tallest building in Tampa."
Deaner was featured on Spectrum Bay News 9 before as she is a strong advocate for the American Lung Association.
She is also a personal trainer at Powerhouse Gym in Trinity and she has many reasons to be a fierce fighter.
"For me, it's all about health. I lost my dad to lung cancer,” she said. “I also am a lung cancer survivor. Pretty much everyone on the team that's here with me today is also in honor of somebody who has been lost or is fighting on lung cancer."
This time she is doing her part in the Fight for Air Climb in its 19th edition.
She will climb the stairs of the Bank of America building and raise money for the American Lung Association.
She is doing it for the third time.
"I was diagnosed with lung cancer non-smoking small cell carcinoma in 2020. They did a lobectomy,” she said about her cancer journey. “They took the middle portion of my lung out along with the tumor and I've been cancer-free for four years now. So, I do feel a little bit winded. So, it is hard. But If I can do it, anyone can do it. Just go at your own pace, do what you can, take breaks whenever you need."
In the practice climb, Deaner said what makes her feel good about doing this, like her team is getting bigger, and they are spreading more awareness.
"I lost my father to lung cancer and then was a tremendous hit to me ... as far as fight more my health. The year I lost him is the year I got certified to be a personal trainer. So, I wanted to help everyone out with their journeys as well," she said.
As she continues her own journey, inspiring others to fight the awful disease.