Some 500 people chose to take the stairs Saturday morning at the Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis as part of Big Climb Minneapolis. The event is one of 13 nationwide events to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
"It's kind of like doing a 5K run except it's a vertical challenge," said Teri Cannon, the Executive Director for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Participants paid a $40 registration fee and with a minimum donation of $100. However, there were incentives to make higher donations including t-shirts, prizes, and even an after-party held on the 39th floor.
"It's great to have an event like this in February because people want to be active and do those events like races and walks, but it's hard to find a spot to do that," Cannon said. "This is indoors, so it's climate-controlled and weather-proof we like to say."
Climbers could choose to do 53 or 105 floors on Saturday morning. Some of the participants were doing it for time, some were there for fun, and others were there after battling their own health issues.
"Two kids that were sick or in the hospital last year that had teams climbing for them last year were here doing the event this year," Cannon said. "It was very heartwarming to see."
In total, Big Climb Minneapolis raised $250,000.
Big Climb's next even will take place in Houston on March 7. A Big Climb event was held earlier this year in Dallas.