While COVID-19 restrictions mean making adjustments, at this point, the starclimb by members of the Cochrane Fire Services is going ahead on May 14.

Firefighter Chris Chyka, who has participated in the Firefighter Starclimb Challenge since it began, says they are now working through the logistics for the day. Instead of going up in groups, participants will now be completing the stairclimb individually.

Mayor Jeff Genung is once again taking the 1,204 steps and is being joined by Town CAO Mike Derricott.

Mayor Genung says his goal is to simply complete it.

"I've not done a lot of training," he laughs. "It's not like last time where we were training in the tower. Obviously, COVID has taken away some of those close contact situations, so we're not able to do that. I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to do anything at all, but here we are in the eleventh hour, and yes, I'm doing it. It will be an experience, let me put it that way."

He says the positive takeaway is despite the pandemic there are ways we can continue to remain active and make a positive contribution. He's also pleased to see Cochrane named as one of the sites around the province where people can take the challenge.

Looking at the bigger picture, he's hoping to raise as many funds as possible for Wellspring Calgary. The nonprofit organization has been delivering cancer supportive care in Calgary and southern Alberta since 2007. Their vision is no one has to face cancer alone.

Just this week, Genung started to actively solicit donations.

"I hope people will consider clicking the link and donating to a good cause of helping people who are dealing with cancer through all this. One of the slogans I read from Wellspring is 'Cancer's not on pause.'

To donate in support of Genung's climb, click here.

You can donate to CAO Derricott's climb here. 

To donate to the Cochrane firefighters team, click here. 

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