American Lung Association of the East Bay

Those who know me semi-​well, know that the majority of my job focuses on tobacco prevention, intervention and cessation. Needless to say, the American Lung Association is an important, reliable and respected partner to that work.
Those who know me better, know that I am an anti-​tobacco advocate ALL of the time, not just when I am «on the clock.» It turns out that all of the American Lung Association staff who I have had the privilege to meet are in ²⁴⁄₇ as well.
This year, I decided to walk (or rather climb) the talk. I signed up for an American Lung Association’s Fight for Air climb (
). Our team, Thunder Thighs, climbed 52 flights of stairs (1,197 steps!) this morning in San Francisco.
My goal for this event was the same as for the 5K Mud Run I did last month (
) — to finish without passing out and/​or vomiting. I’m not going to lie, it crossed my mind more than a few times to sneak out of the stairwell and take the elevator the rest of the way up. But I didn’t — I climbed all those steps without passing out and/​or vomiting!
As for the event coordination, I expected lots of crowds but it was so well organized that the check-​in process, everything from parking to picking up our bibs/​timing chips, was perfectly smooth. We were even able to join an earlier wave. The pre– and post– event communication was also excellent.
I agree with Michelle S that it is totally worth it to support a wonderful cause, if only just for the amazing panoramic view from the 52^nd floor. Oh, and the firefighters weren’t bad to look at either.

I’m at it again, Michelle S. fans. I’m participating in my FOURTH American Lung Association «Fight for Air» Climb!
Why would I wake up early on a Saturday and race up 50-​something flights of stairs of a skyscraper? I do it because my mom, Carol S., died from emphysema and pneumonia caused by decades of smoking. I run and raise money in her memory,
I started in San Francisco in 2010, continued twice in Boston, and now I’m back in San Francisco for my 4^th climb.
At the risk of revealing my entire name, (yes, Michelle is actually my middle name), you can sponsor me here: