National Take the Stairs Day: Pittsburgh Residents Step Up for Clean Air and Healthy Lungs in 2025

Tomorrow, on Wednesday, January 8 in celebration of National Take the Stairs Day, the American Lung Association in Pittsburgh has teamed up with the Rivers Club to host a Member Mixer to support the 2025 Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh set to take place on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The January 8 Member Mixer will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will showcase our new Fight For Air Climb post event celebration venue. The Member Mixer will provide attendees the opportunity to register early for the climb and connect with others who are passionate about lung health.  

In addition to showcasing the post Climb venue, the mixer event will feature live music by Nikki and Graff Duo, complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and cash bar with a signature cocktail. Tips from the cash bar will be donated to the American Lung Association to support the official 2025 Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh and help save lives through research, education and advocacy. Registration is required to attend the pre-climb mixer by January 6, 2025. To register for the pre-climb mixer, complete the survey in this link.    

National Take the Stairs Day is an annual observance on the second Wednesday of January that gives Americans an opportunity to adopt healthy routines like taking the stairs. Stair climbing is a great way to burn calories but is also a simple way to improve your overall health.    

“We’re excited to kick off the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh in such a meaningful way on National Take the Stairs Day,” said Steve Gillis, Development Director at the American Lung Association in Pittsburgh. It’s the perfect way to commit to get moving more while supporting lung health. We are inviting the Greater Pittsburgh and surrounding area to take their commitment one step further by joining us at the event on January 8 to kick off fundraising efforts for this year’s Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh in March.”  

During the January 8 mixer, Pittsburgh Local Leadership Board Member Dr. Jane Taylor, FY24 top fundraiser for the American Lung Association in the nation, Pediatric Pulmonologist at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, will be announcing the new Zebra Award that will be presented at the March 22, 2025 Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh. 

Dr. Taylor’s son carries a stuffed animal zebra with him while climbing to inspire togetherness and strength in numbers. “The Zebra Award recognizes an individual who leads the charge toward better lung health by uniting others and ensuring that everyone, like the zebras, receives the care they need,” said Dr. Taylor. “Zebras are unique animals with distinct patterns that act as their own fingerprints—no two zebras are patterned alike, much like the diversity within our own community. Zebras work together for protection and strength. Similarly, many lung diseases are rare and often overlooked in early diagnosis—just like the zebra diagnosis in medicine. And just like the zebras – we must work together to protect lung health.”  

More About the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh: 

The Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh’s Presenting Sponsor is MSA Safety and the Community Sponsors are Jim Shorkey Toyota and Rivers Club. The Climb will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 22, 2025, where participants will climb 836 stairs at One Oxford Centre. The post climb after party will be held at the Rivers Club immediately following the event. 

Joining the Fight For Air Climb supports the work of the Lung Association to defeat lung cancer, champion clean air for all, improve the quality of life for those living with lung disease and their families, and create a tobacco-free future. When you participate in the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh, you’re supporting people with lung disease who are fighting for every breath. Hundreds of residents, including local firefighters and competing local fire departments who will practice with over 50lbs of firefighting gear on, come together for this fun and lifesaving event. 

For more information about the Fight For Air Climb Pittsburgh, and to register, visit FightForAirClimb.org/pittsburgh.