Conquering Cancer One Step at a Time

Conquering Cancer One Step at a Time

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Gruelling. That’s the best way to describe the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge.

“We go up as a team and we go down as a team,”says Bruderheim firefighter Correen Hossak. She, along with team members representing Lamont County Emergency Services, (LCES) are already training for the 2020 edition that will be held May 3 in Calgary.

Each team member, wearing 60 lbs. of equipment and using air packs, will be going up a total of 1,204 steps together. The Bow Tower is 3,400 feet above sea level and climb the 775 vertical feet – 1204 steps or 55 floors in the building.

“It never gets easier.” But Correen says she is able to push through the physical aspect of the challenge by listening to music, visualization techniques, repeating motivational words and thinking about some of sayings of her beloved mentor Randy Segboer who passed away in 2012.

Bruderheim firefighter Correen Hossak will be joined by firefighters throughout Lamont County to participate in this year’s Firefighters Stairclimb Challenge in Calgary on May 3.

What is uppermost in her mind before, during and after the stairclimb is the fact she, along with her teammates, are raising money for Albertans with cancer. All of the proceeds from the stairclimb are donated to Wellspring Calgary. “It’s a very unique company… Wellspring helps people on their cancer journey.” Some of the ways the organization assists prostate cancer patients is by offering assistance in transportation, treatment, therapy and programs.

This way, “no one faces cancer alone” says Correen. For every $50 raised, it allows Wellspring to offer one month of programming.

Correen first got involved with the stairclimb challenge two years ago. The first year, Lamont firefighters Scott Calder and Kevin Price participated in the fundraising event. In the second year, the number of firefighters jumped to eight. This year, Correen hopes to have 20 team members.

Last year was the first time Correen participated in the challenge, and was happy to have her daughter Amanda participate as well. Correen says it’s important to go at your own pace. She raised just under $15,000 which was second highest of all the participants. This year, her goal is $25,000. Correen says she asks everyone for a donation, and has had an overwhelmingly positive response.

Correen’s husband Dave was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. He underwent treatment, but the cancer returned, and he had to undergo further treatment. While those were very difficult times, he persevered, and recently received a clean bill of health.

The couple have three children and three grandchildren. Her efforts are for all families who have and who will face similar challenges. In the meantime, she will continue to put one foot in front of another to help people in need.

LCES team includes firefighters from Bruderheim, Lamont, Chipman, Mundare and Andrew. The team has its own page on the Calgary stairclimb website where online donations can be made.