Fighting for Air: South Florida Community Raises Record-Breaking $250K for Lung Health

This morning, nearly 1,000 community members from across South Florida, including more than 300 local firefighters, took part in the American Lung Association’s 21st annual Fight For Air Climb Miami, presented by Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403. The event raised more than $250,000—an all-time high for the Miami Climb—to support the Lung Association’s lifesaving research, programming and advocacy for the more than 3.2 million people in Florida living with lung disease. Local 1403 has served as a presenting sponsor of the Fight For Air Climb Miami since the event’s debut twenty-one years ago.

“For the past twenty-one years, our South Florida community has come together to support loved ones affected by lung disease, helping them fight for every breath,” said Dr. Mark Block, member of the Lung Association’s Southeast Regional Board and Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Memorial Healthcare System. “We are deeply grateful to the participants, volunteers, sponsors, and first responders who united to raise more than $250,000, with more funds still coming in. Every step taken today gets us closer to a future free of lung cancer and lung disease.”

“Today, the Fight For Air Climb Miami reached a historic revenue high. As a first responder who lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the Lung Association’s mission is near and dear to my heart,” said Peter Berger, chair of the Fight For Air Climb Miami, firefighter/paramedic and fire inspector for Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. “90 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to fund lifesaving research into new treatments and cures, education and advocacy. Simply put: these funds sustain lives, including my own. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this milestone.”

Funds raised from the Fight For Air Climb support the mission of the American Lung Association and its efforts to defeat lung cancer, champion clean air, improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families and create a tobacco-free future.  

Thank you to Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403 for serving as the Presenting Sponsor for the Fight For Air Climb Miami. Thank you to our local sponsors, including Memorial Cancer Institute, loanDeport Park, Economos Properties, Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Wilen Florida, Van Kirk & Sons Pools & Spas, One Biscayne Tower, FPL, Jordan Niefeld Wealth Planning of Raymond James, MGM Construction Group, South Florida Council of Firefighters, AshBritt, Alhambra Orchestra, NSU Florida, NorthStar Financial Planners Inc., Vogelzang Law, HCA Florida Healthcare, Florida Health and Amerant Bank. Thank you to our national corporate team partners, Kindred Hospitals.

The American Lung Association has continued admiration for all our local firefighters and emergency responders and is thankful for their continued support of the Fight For Air Climb.

For more information about the event and to support the American Lung Association mission to save lives, visit ClimbMiami.org.