Tripps Fight for Air

High Five at the Finish Photo:

Mark and Jenn Tripp high five one another at the completion of the 2012 Fight For Air Climb at One Boston Place in February. (Photo by Heather McBean)

Auburn Fire Department Team Photo:

Competing in the Fight for Air Climb for the Auburn Fire Department, from left to right are: firefighter Mark Tripp, firefighter Tom Hunter, team captain Dan Masselli, Lt. Scott Pray, firefighter Josh Harris, firefighter Kyle Wescott, firefighter Tom Printup and Lt. Chip Keene. (Photo by Heather McBean)

 

RUMFORD/BOSTON, MA- 16 stories, 1133 participants, 380 of them were firefighters from all over New England, and Mark Tripp of Rumford, was one of them. Mark, a member of the Auburn Fire Department, and his wife, Jenn, competed in the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb held at One Boston Place in February.

“I told myself I was going to give it my all,” noted Mark. “When I finished, I had nothing left. It was so brutal, I threw up.”

As the civilians ran first, Mark and the rest of the Auburn department took their last chance to pump themselves up for the opportunity to show what they were made of. Dressed in full fire-fighting gear, including the air pack, the men surely had a task ahead of them.

Soon after Mark's wife Jenn finished, it was the firefighters' turn. With 15 seconds between each climber, the field was packed.

“I thought I was in pretty good shape,” noted Mark. “But, that was excruciating.”

Participants in the Fight for Air Climb raise funds to benefit the American Lung Association and support their efforts to fight the battle against lung disease.

Mark and Jenn noted that they would definitely take part in the fundraiser next year. Mark finished eighth out of 380 firefighters.

To learn more, visit www.lung.org.