They weren’t alone. Many of the Page Elementary fourth and fifth grade classes took part in the stair climb challenge Thursday in honor of the 413 first responders who died on 9-11-01. Their goal was to walk up and down as many steps in the stadium as possible in about 30 minutes. Many carried the photo of a fallen firefighter with them and a few also carried their backpacks.
Fifth-grade teacher Nikki Witt started the challenge last year while teaching fourth grade. It was a way of helping students understand how first responders have a difficult and dangerous job, but they do whatever they need to do to help others. This year Witt is teaching fifth grade and has many of her same students from a year ago. Today, those students said they had an even greater appreciation for what the challenge meant.
“I just kept thinking about being one of those firefighters and I was trying to get up those steps to help people,” said Kietzman.
“We did this because of 9-11,” said Apollo Horstman. “We wanted to represent the people who passed away when the planes crashed into the buildings.”
Gehrig Skiba said he was just trying to push himself to keep moving up and down all along the length of the bleachers and back again. A picture of New York firefighter Leon Smith Jr. was taped on his shirt. “It gave me motivation. They wouldn’t stop and I wasn’t going to either.”
His classmate Horstman quickly agreed. “If the firefighters didn’t stop then I wasn’t going to stop.”
Sarah VanEnk said it was a tough challenge, and she was glad one of the Page teachers printed off pictures of all the firefighters who died on 9-11. “It gave us motivation,” she said.
Witt told her students that 343 firefighters lost their lives on 9-11 as they rushed into the buildings and climbed the stairs to rescue others. Additionally, 60 police officers died and 10 EMS workers for a total of 413 people who died while trying to help others. The challenge was to take as many stair steps as possible - with many reaching their goal of 413 steps - one for each fallen hero.
Devynn Baylock can’t remember exactly how many stairs she climbed, but she knows she thought about the firefighters a lot while she was taking the challenge. “They had to walk up all those steps just to try and help somebody else. I know the firefighters were fighting to try to help people just like us and tried their best to get everyone down to safety.”
“Each step we took today was to remember those people who died trying to help others,” said Colston Scott.
Deacon Rocco admitted it was hard, but a challenge he was ready for today. “I just wanted to keep going to represent all those people who died. I’m glad I did it.”
Kalvin Rosario’s backpack filled with books got pretty heavy and he stopped to take breaks. “But I didn’t quit,” he said.
Students were joined throughout the day by teachers, grandparents, parents, and even some firefighters who also carried backpacks or wore full firefighting gear. By the time students were finished, few remembered exactly how many stairs they took, but they said they will never forget why they were taking every step.