Caroline Bryant
Features Editor
46,200 flights of stairs. That’s how many stairs the Florida Southern community climbed this year to honor the fallen heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
For the challenge, each of the participants climbed 110 flights of stairs, the height of the World Trade Center. Participants ran or climbed anywhere from the bleachers at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center to the cement steps near the Waterdome.
Local recreational centers and national challenges inspired the Wellness Center to instate the climb. They knew that they couldn’t have participants climb 110 flights of stairs at once like other organizations, but decided they could adapt the challenge to fit the architecture of the school.
Once they finalized the idea, it premiered in 2019. At first, the climb was only held on the anniversary of the attack. But as the event grew, the Wellness Center expanded it into a multi-day event.
Director of Wellness Alicia Rossow stated that 2022 had the most participants with 552 climbers. This year, 420 people participated. Rossow explains this might be because the challenge ended on 9/11, versus started on 9/11 like the challenge in 2022, so the event wasn’t in the forefront of student’s minds.
They plan on starting the event on 9/11 again next year to expand their potential reach.
While anyone in the FSC community is encouraged to join, the majority of participants are students and student-athletes. Women’s lacrosse, women’s tennis, men’s tennis, and women’s softball are some of the sports teams that participated this year.
As athletes, Rossow explains that the teams try to accomplish the challenge in one sitting as fast as they can. Yet to her, the challenge is more about getting it done.
“Some people are trying to push their time. But to me, it’s just about accomplishing it and reflecting while you do that,” Rossow said.
Whether it takes participants 40 minutes or two hours, participants who complete all 110 flights can show proof of workout or a picture of their climb to the Wellness Center to receive a commemorative shirt.
Years prior, the Wellness Center raised funds to donate to a 9/11 memory organization. They did not donate this year due to the eradication of said organization. However, Rossow plans to look for a new organization next year.
Knowing that the funds will be going to the right place and the right people is important to Rossow. As someone who was in high school during 9/11, she said she remembers how the day went.
“You know, when I was in high school that day, my teacher’s brother was someone who passed away during it, but I didn’t personally know him,” Rossow said. “But just to see how much it affected her and to see how much it affected our United States, it’s just something that’s always been important to us here.”
This may be personal to Rossow, but she hopes to continue spreading awareness of the event to FSC students who were not born until after the attack.
“Our goal is to try to get as many people to do it and be a part of it, or at least know it exists,” Rossow said.
