Firefighter Climbs 110 Flights of Stairs at Gym to Honor Fallen 9/11 Firefighters

A firefighter in Tennessee climbed 110 sets of stairs at his gym in honor of his brothers and sisters who lost their lives on 9/11.

Jason Harding, 33, from Knoxville, TN hit the gym in full gear early Sunday morning before his shift started to take part in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs.

“Thank you for your services,” wrote gym employee Lezlie Bauler who captured the moment and spread it through a Facebook post that rapidly went viral.

Harding did not intend on publicizing his action, nor was he looking for any self recognition, as he mentioned in a statement released to local news outlet WGRZ-TV. He could not make it to Nashville’s Memorial Stair Climb this year and did his best to replicate the event on his own and continue to show his support.

The stair climb was founded in Denver, CO, on September 11, 2005. It is an annual event held by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in states across the nation to honor the 343 fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day.

“We climb to ensure that the fallen firefighters of September 11 are never forgotten; we complete their journey through dedication, training, and physical fitness,” states the organization.