Photos: Climbing in the Fight for Air

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Lauderdale-LaGrange firefighters, top left, Eric Taylor and James Taylor pause after climbing to the top of the stairs as Brian Duerst heads up the last flight in a department practice run at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Wells Hall stairs. Department members are practicing for The Fight for Air Climb, a fundraiser for the American Lung Association, to be held in Milwaukee on March 19. Terry Mayer photo

Firefighter Brian Duerst climbs the steps one at a time in full turnout gear. Terry Mayer photo

Firefighter Eric Taylor climbs the stairs.Taylor is also captain of the Lauderdale-LaGrange Firefighters team in The Fight for Air Climb.Terry Mayer photo

Firefighter Frank Taylor nears the top of the stairwell. Terry Mayer photo

Lauderdale-LaGrange firefighters Eric Taylor and James Taylor move up from the basement to the first flight of stairs at Wells Hall, a dormitory at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Terry Mayer photo

Firefighter Melanie Taylor is heading up the stairs as students are heading down. Terry Mayer photo

At 7 years old, Payton Taylor, the daughter of Lauderdale-LaGrange firefighters James and Melanie Taylor, was the youngest participant in the entire climb last year. Here she practices with the rest of the team. Terry Mayer photo

Seeing a number of firefighters in full gear on the stairwell at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Wells Hall last week may have been a bit startling, but the crew was there to climb, not battle a blaze.

Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department members took a practice run at Wells Hall stairs in preparation for the upcoming The Fight for Air Climb. The March 19 climb is a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. Team members will climb 1,034 steps through 47 floors of the U.S. Bank Building in Milwaukee wearing 50 pounds of turnout gear.

This year's team includes Eric Taylor, Brian Duerst, Jeff Markham, Frank Taylor, James Taylor, Melanie Taylor, Payton Taylor and Chris Trump.

The Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department is hoping to reach its goal of $10,000. For the past three years, the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department was the highest fundraising fire team. The department

For more information or to donate, log on to http://tinyurl.com/LLFDclimb.

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