For the tenth year running, a team of Snoqualmie firefighters will climb 1,300 steps up the Columbia Center in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.

On Sunday, March 11, more than 1,500 firefighters from around the world will climb to the top of the 70-floor Columbia Center in downtown Seattle, wearing full firefighting gear and oxygen tanks.

For the past two years, Snoqualmie firefighters, along with firefighters from Fall City, Duvall, and Eastside Fire & Rescue, have led the team competition for fundraising collecting more than $30,000 in donations each year for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

They are currently in second place for team fundraising in 2012 having raised more than $9,000. They are determined to move into first place and raise more money than ever before. Although the actual Stairclimb is on March 11, fundraising will continue through March 30.

Locals can help Valley firefighters raise funds for leukemia and lymphoma research by making an online donation: Go to the Stairclimb website, http://www.llswa.org/, aclick ‘Donate’, click ‘Search for a Team’ and enter ‘Local 2878’.

Or, supporters may drop off a donation at the Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway. Checks should be made payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb supports the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising money through sponsorships, individual and department fundraising, and entry fees for blood-cancer research and patient services.