Pohlman was able to finish in time and get down to encourage Shawn Ellinghouse before he started his climb. Ellinghouse was one of 1,825 male firefighters who raced to the top.
Kristy Pohlman is ready for the climb to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle, Wash. She was one of 175 women to participate in the climb. She and Ellinghouse each wore the name of a local Seeley Lake Rural Fire District member's fiancé who was diagnosed with Lymphoma three days before the climb on their helmet.
Shawn Ellinghouse and Kristy Pohlman started training for the climb in October. They trained at Optimal Fitness in Seeley Lake and ran the 156 stairs and 11 stories at Aber Hall at the University of Montana nine times before the Scotts Firefighter Stairclimb.
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Rural Fire District SLRFD volunteers Shawn Ellinghouse and Kristy Pohlman participated in their fourth Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, Wash. March 6. This year they carried to the top a local SLRFD member's fiancé's name on their helmets who'd been diagnosed with lymphoma the Wednesday before Ellinghouse and Pohlman left.
Pohlman and Ellinghouse, along with 1,900 other firefighters, including 175 women, raced 788 vertical feet and 1,311 steps to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle in full bunker gear. This is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS is the world's largest non-profit health organization, which is dedicated to finding a cure and providing patient assistance and education for lymphoma, leukemia and other blood cancers.
"It was awesome," said Pohlman who started training with Ellinghouse in October.
Both Ellinghouse and Pohlman reached their goals and beat their times from last year. Ellinghouse finished in 27:26, six minutes faster than last year and Pohlman beat her time by 11 minutes, finishing in 36:45.
Pohlman talked to the organizer for the climb and had her made an honoree for the climb. There was an honoree at every single flight. Pohlman stopped at each one to pay tribute.
"My 30 minutes of pain is nothing compared to the battle [each one of the honorees] fought," said Pohlman.
Ellinghouse said she was on his mind the whole climb.
"If we can put ourselves through this much agony for five, 10, 15, 20 minutes, it is nothing compared to the pain they go through in the fight for their lives," said Ellinghouse.
The climb estimates they will raise $1.5 million by the end of March. The couple's goal is to raise $1,000 each for the Society for Cancer Research. They are only about $200 shy of their goal with a few weeks left until the March 30 cut-off. To donate, visit firefighterstairclimb.org and click the donate button in the top right-hand corner. Then search for either Kristy Pohlman or Shawn Ellinghouse.
"It was a great year and we can't wait to go back next year," said Pohlman. Both of their goals are to beat their time from this year.
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