Posted: Sat, 15 May 2010 06:22 PM - 7,747 Readers

By: News 8 Austin

The first Fight for Air Climb got underway at the Frost Bank building in Austin Saturday morning.

Firefighters from Austin, Lake Travis and Round Rock joined the race, wearing their full gear. The competitive stair climbing event is equal to a 5K race.

Event organizers said participants in the race would have a new found respect for healthy lungs. Contestants climbed 31 floors to a finish line party and penthouse views of the city skyline.

News 8’s Veronica Castelo emceed the race.

This year’s event raised nearly $100,000 for local lung cancer research and education.

Lung cancer is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.