'It's the least we could do.' They climbed to remember at Canandaigua Academy

CANANDAIGUA — Storm Copella carried about 30 pounds of extra weight as she lifted one foot after another up the rain-dampened bleacher stairs at Braves Field at Canandaigua Academy.

Her firefighting gear — the senior is a junior firefighter with the Cheshire Fire Department — served as a reminder of what she loves to do, but also that so many firefighters and other first responders gave their lives to save others in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Her goal on Sunday as part of the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb was to go as far as she could go and remember the 343 fallen New York firefighters and others who lost their lives that day as she climbed, 21 years later.

“I’m going to think about each one of them as I do it,” Storm said.

This is the second year of the stair-climbing fundraiser at Canandaigua Academy, according to Jean Ferris, who works in special programs at Canandaigua. This year, money raised goes to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and to local fire, police and ambulance services.

While this is meant for the entire community to take part in, another goal in staging the event was to ensure that young people — all of the Canandaigua students who took part Sunday were born after the attacks — learn more about the sacrifices made that day and to never forget what happened, Ferris said.

"Hopefully, each year it gets bigger," said Ferris, noting that the inaugural event last year raised $3,400. "We’d like this to continue for years to come."

Each of the steps symbolizes a fallen hero. Some of the stair climbers set their sights on lofty goals; the towers at the World Trade Center, which collapsed as a result of the terrorist attacks, had 110 stories. That's why Jack Ferris set a goal of 110 times up and down the stairs, which he accomplished.

"Piece of cake? Absolutely not," Ferris said of the effort. "They deserve it."

Several of the Canandaigua sports teams and their coaches took part in the event, which was scheduled for about three hours. A Mercy Flight helicopter also flew overhead to kick off the climbing.

Payton Holtby, 14, and a member of the class of 2026, said he felt this was a great tribute to those who lost their lives.

"It’s the least we can do," Payton said.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Canandaigua Academy students remember 9/11