Hundreds made their way up and down the stairs of Capella Tower on Saturday morning when Big Climb Minneapolis returned to downtown Minneapolis for the first time since 2020.
The Big Climb, which raises funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's support of blood cancer research and patient support, has participants climb 53 flights of stairs to the top of Capella Tower.
"Some people choose to do it twice, and I've ran past people who are on their third climb of the day," Eric Winscher said. "I think there's a team of firefighters do it in their firefighter gear. It's really incredible the effort people put forward to raise money."
As of Thursday, 90 teams and over 700 people had registered to participate in Saturday's climb, with onsite registration available Saturday after 10 a.m.
Climbers are encouraged to raise money for the climb and there are rewards for meeting certain goals. For the Big Climb in 2021, which was held virtually, Climbers raised an average of $350.
"This is one of our several events that we hold in the Minneapolis and Upper Plains/Midwest area," said Kortney Hamm, the Upper Plains executive director at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. "The events in our markets and the city really fuel what LLS is doing as a global leader in blood cancer research, support, and advocacy for patients and their families."
Hamm says events like Big Climb Minneapolis have proven to be effective in their mission to fight, and eventually cure, blood cancers.
"Since 2017, LLS has helped move forward move treatment options and therapy options through research and clinical trials for 85 percent of the blood cancer drugs that are out right now," she said. "We are really the leaders and really moving forward the newest and best therapy options for patients."
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Winscher, who is a financial advisor with Northwest Mutual inside the Capella Tower, led an effort to get coworkers involved in the Big Climb.
"I don't know why it occurred to me to use a pirate theme just to try and attract people in the email to get involved, but it got legs," he said. "So now, I'm climbing on Saturday in a full pirate costume because that apparently helped raise more money when I made the promise to be a pirate."
Bringing the event from a virtual one back to in-person proved to be a strong decision as climbers sought out donations to benefit LLS.
"When we're out the fundraising, we're committing to doing this. So when you're asking for donations and their support, there is some punch behind declaring that you're going to do the stairs twice," he said. "Additionally, we share our stories about why we climb. Many of us have lost loved ones and many of us have success stories from the funding provided by LLS."
Survivors will share their stories on Saturday and climbers will be sent off by a local honored hero. As climbers ascend the stairs in Capella Tower, they will be greeted by music and inspiration from the community.
On the 9th floor, they will pause to honor and remember those lost to blood cancers.
"Every floor we have the opportunity to post a photo so people know you're climbing in memory of somebody or in support of somebody that's going through the struggle," Winscher said. "It's like you find a renewed energy in your legs that carry you up the next flight when you're wondering how many more are left. You see that next photo and remember it doesn't matter how many are left."