JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Step by step, floor by floor, firefighters took in one of Jacksonville's tallest buildings Saturday.
A group of local firefighters climbed all 42 flights of stairs in the Bank of America Tower, some wearing their full uniform the whole way.
"It's no joke because we wear about 70 pounds of gear and at any given time we are also carrying another 50 or 60 pounds of equipment up," said Eric Prosswimmer.
Two dozen firefighters and a search and rescue dog joined 500 others for the Fight For Air Climb.
"You are really hot there is no doubt. You are deprived of oxygen so your body tingles," said Prosswimmer.
Every step helped raise $140,000 for the American Lung Association. The money will fund local programs that help people with breathing issues.
"It's a great example of what people that suffer from Asthma and COPD and lung diseases deal with everyday," said American Lung Association spokeswoman Nicola Barnack.
Each volunteer climbed 838 stairs to the top, but they say it is nothing compared to what firefighters faced on 9-11.
"The building they climbed was far greater than this one," said Prosswimmer.
Firefighters climbed more than 80 floors of the World Trade Center and many of them never got out.
"It was an eye-opener for everybody. It makes you look at certain situations a little more cautiously."
Most of the firefighters were able to finish the climb in under 10 minutes.
