Five firefighters from Cochrane Fire Services are preparing for the second annual Firefighter Stair Climb Challenge on May 1st.

Bob Beer, Dave Levisky, Chris Chyka, Derek Orr, and Brad Hoey will climb 1205 stairs with 100 per cent of the proceeds helping firefighters and community members fight cancer.

Chyka said the team will run stairs at the Bow Tower to raise the money.

"We are raising funds for Wellspring which is a cancer support entity that supports people going through cancer diagnosis/treatment. They provide programs for physical and mental well being. Not the actual active treatment but the support services around it."

Chyka said the group is already in training mode after getting workouts in over a month ago.

"This all stemmed from our exposure and the grueling climb that it was last year, so we started to put a bit more prep time in a little bit earlier this year."

Dave Levisky, senior firefighter with the Cochrane Fire Department, added that the climb was harder than they thought last year.

"People ask what is it like and basically it's really put a snow suit on, put a 60lb pack, and we'll see you at the end of 50 flights of stairs. It's just an overheat issue and some of us, it was more cardio."

Levisky said that by the second flight of stairs they knew it was going to be a tough slog, but the last ten flights were the worst.

"It's all glass on the staircase, so it's really a greenhouse effect so the higher you go the hotter it was getting. You are definitely feeling it at the end."

About 500 people took part in the event last year as Chyka said Cochrane Fire Services is happy to partake yet again.

The quintet is looking to raise at least $2,000 this year.

If you would like to help the firefighters reach their goal, you can donate here under Cochrane Fire Team #1.

Marni Fedeyko - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com