Libby firefighters help raise money
Neil Benson finishes up a routine training exercise Thursday with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department.
Brian Hobday trains with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department staff Thursday at Libby High School. (Luke Holister/The Western News)
Neil Benson finishes up a routine training exercise Thursday with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department.
Brian Hobday trains with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department staff Thursday at the Libby High School.
Brian Hobday, left, with Neil Benson stand at the top of the Columbia Center after the stairclimb, March 10 in Seattle. (Courtesy photo)
After training for months, two Libby firefighters set out to climb 69 flights of stairs to fundraise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on March 10.
Firefighters Neil Benson and Brian Hobday raised a combined total of $3,470 at the LLS Firefighter Stairclimb, a yearly event designed to help raise money for people in need at the Columbia Center in Seattle.
For Benson, the fundraiser was a very personal journey. He climbed in memory of family members that have survived and ones that have passed away.
“In the back of my mind I’m always saying, ‘That could be my kid,’” he said.
Last year, Benson broke down once he got to the top. Emotions at the event can be very high, he said.
Benson’s uncle, Joe Beckham, a survivor, is one of his major inspirations.
Blood cancer is something that will probably affect everyone in some way, he said. Benson cares a lot about helping families like his.
Going up the stairs is a mind game, said Benson. “You get to a certain point and -- it’s like ‘oh God, I’m only at floor 50.’”
Climbers just have to flip the switch and power through it, he said.
“The older we get, the harder it gets,” joked Benson, who trained for four months before the climb.
Children struggling with blood cancer should have the best possible treatment to get them through it, he said.
Brian Hobday said he does the climb for everyone in the community who has battled or is still battling blood cancer.
“We’re doing this for 20 minutes and they’re doing this for months, years,” said Hobday.
During the climb, Hobday listened to music on his phone, but he forgot to turn off the notifications and received roughly 40 texts from friends and family rooting for him.
At the 42nd floor Hobday, started to shut down.
“But those text messages just kept going off,” he said.
Rather than being distracted, Hobday was humbled by the amount of support he received, even though he could not read the messages while climbing.
“I just didn’t stop, never stopped, just kept going,” he said.
Firefighters climbing up the stairwells can see photos and stories of people on display as they go, he said. “Nothing does prepare you for going up.”
Hobday and Benson both are hoping to increase the amount of money raised before the fundraiser ends. Donations can be made on the Firefighter Stairclimb website at llswa.org.