Latest news with #WellspringAlberta
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Firefighters climb stairs at Brookfield Place to raise awareness and funds to fight cancer
One year ago Sunday, Tony Cianfarani, a member of the Stettler Fire Department, was in a bad place – in hospital, with Stage 3 colon cancer. 'I had very bad infection from the chemotherapy, and I was very close to actually dying,' Cianfarani said. 'I had a fever of 105. I spent three nights in the hospital, and I was on IV antibiotics.' Sunday, Cianfarani was one of 500 or so firefighters who climbed close to 1400 steps at Brookfield Place to raise funds to support Wellspring Alberta, an organization that helped him during his cancer treatment. 'I leaned on my firefighter family a lot when I was going through all this, and they were super supportive,' he said. 'I also leaned on Wellspring, and these programs are there for people like us, and definitely use them. 'Don't be scared to use them for sure.' Calgary fire chief Steve Dongworth was among the firefighters climbing stairs Sunday and said that cancer is a reality for firefighters. Steve Dongworth, June 8, 2025 Calgary fire chief Steve Dongworth participated in the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge Sunday (Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary) 'We have, you know, an ongoing toll of firefighters who pass away during due to occupational cancers.,' Dongworth said. 'We've had over 50 now in Calgary. It's unfortunately a number that keeps climbing. So there's a real recognition (that) the hazards of firefighting cause cause cancer, for sure.' Hundreds of firefighters from across Alberta, Canada and around the world joined the event Sunday to raise awareness and funds for Wellspring Alberta. And one of them was Cianfarani, one year to the day after nearly dying. 'it's just crazy that only a year later, I'm about to climb a skyscraper, and I'm in the best shape that I've been in in years since my 20s. 'So, yeah, it's just It's unbelievable that I'm actually here,' he added. 'And I don't think that the gravity of the of the events hit me yet, but I think when I get to the top of the stairs, it will. Dongworth took the challenge too –and finished the 57-floors of steps. 'It wasn't as much fun in the stairwell, but it's okay,' he said. 'It's a very great cause. It's great exercise. 'It's a great day.' All the support programs offered through Wellspring Alberta are free. For more about the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge, go here. With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
Calgary Herald
11 hours ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Hundreds of firefighters climb Calgary's tallest tower to support cancer care
Article content Dongworth noted the climb also simulates real-life scenarios. 'We have to climb stairs at fires sometimes. We don't always rely on elevators. Sometimes elevators aren't there. There are no elevators or the elevators aren't working, so we often have to take a lot of gear upstairs already with our firefighting protective equipment on.' Article content Article content He described the 'hard climb' as a mental battle. 'I make a habit of not looking at the numbers of the floors,' he said. 'Because if you follow the numbers, it seems to take even longer.' Article content In a statement, he added the event is a 'powerful reminder' of the health risks firefighters face, with cancer being the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the profession. 'It's an important way to give back and support organizations like Wellspring Alberta, who provide the care and resources so many need during the toughest times,' he said. Article content Article content This year's climb also featured a Challenge the Chief component, where non-firefighters attempted to race Dongworth to the top of the tower. Article content Article content Aime said the fundraiser continues to grow each year, bringing greater visibility to Wellspring's services and to the risks firefighters face in the line of duty. Article content The Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge was inspired by Seattle's Scott Firefighter Stairclimb and was founded in memory of fallen Calgary firefighter Gord Paul by his sister, Kathy Blas. Article content In addition to supporting Wellspring, a portion of proceeds go to the Firefighters Assistance Charitable Society, which offers peer support and resilience programming for firefighters in Calgary, Red Deer, Cochrane and Lethbridge. Article content 'It's firefighters helping firefighters,' said Marco Ficaccio, one of the directors of the Firefighters Assistance Charitable Society. 'People think that firefighters come, they do their job and then they go home. They don't really see like some of the trauma that we're exposed to. They don't see the hardships.
