The Kansas City Royals are bringing back their 9/11 memorial stair climb for a fourth year, and this one lands just two days before the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
On Wednesday, members of the Royals organization will be joined by Kansas City first responders and representatives from veterans organizations at Kauffman Stadium to tackle 2,200 stairs. The climb matches the 110 stories of the World Trade Center and is meant to honor the hundreds of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001.
The event also ties into Suicide Prevention Month, with the goal of raising awareness about the mental health resources available for first responders and veterans.
Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney is set to be part of it, and he’ll climb the full 2,200 steps wearing firefighter gear. Sweeney works as a volunteer firefighter in the offseason, and the Royals say he has several family members who are first responders. His father, Ed, reportedly spent 35 years as a firefighter in Yonkers, New York.
“The event reflects The Kansas City Royals Foundation’s longstanding commitment to supporting military and first responder organizations through grants, sponsorships, donations, volunteer service and recognition programs, including the Salute to Service Seat and Blue KC’s Answering the Call,” the team said.
Kansas City is marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a second stair-climbing event as well. On Sunday, firefighters from more than 20 states and 60 departments gathered in the metro for the 16th annual Kansas City Memorial Stair Climb.
That group also climbed 110 stories in full gear at Skyline Collection, the building at 1111 Main St. The tower is the second-tallest habitable building in Kansas City and the third-tallest in the state.
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