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2009 Climb for Clean Air a Success
The 21st annual Climb for Clean Air wrapped up July 26 to outstanding success. Over $115,000 was raised which will support American Lung Association efforts to combat air pollution, promote tobacco prevention among teens and find a cure for lung disease. Twelve of the twenty-one climbers successfully reached the summit of the 14,410 foot Mt. Rainier.
The 2009 Climb for Clean Air was accompanied by much fan fare due to the participation of Don O’Neill, a radio personality on KIRO radio’s Ron & Don Show. Don climbed in honor of his good friend and KIRO colleague Brad Perkins, a long-time Climb participant, who passed away recently from terminal cancer. Approximately 18,000 Ron & Don Show listeners followed Don’s progress during the climb. Don invited a national celebrity friend to join him on the climb: Captain Keith Colburn, the Alaskan crab fisherman featured prominently on Discovery Channel’s popular program, Deadliest Catch. Keith helped promote the Climb and ALA at area events.
The Climb was full of many other success stories among its participants. The event served as the second successful summit this summer for Chicago’s Mike Sarlitto and Washington’s Russ Gamble. Mike was participating in his seventh Climb for Clean Air event. Adding further testimony to the power of the media, Ron & Don Show listeners John Hickson and Jeff Rafuse both quit smoking and joined the climb this spring after listening to the radio show’s promotion of the event.
Plans for the 2010 Climb for Clean Air are already underway. For more information, go to www.cleanairadventures.org/climb_for_clean_air.
Washington’s Tobacco Control Report Card Grades Mixed
