CHICAGO – Registration for Go Vertical Chicago 2008, the annual charitable stair climb to the top of the Sears Tower, opens at 9 a.m. CDT Tuesday, June 10 at the “Go Vertical Chicago” website. Entry for the Sears Tower stair climb, which takes place on the morning of November 9th, 2008, is limited to the first 2250 registrants, and will benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Climbers will ascend 2,109 steps and 1,353 vertical feet to the famous Sears Tower Skydeck observatory for the best views in Chicago and the satisfaction of having climbed the tallest building in the western hemisphere, all in support of cancer research.
Go Vertical Chicago, in its seventh year, welcomes climbers of all ages and athletic levels. In past years, stair climbers as young as 6 years old and as old as 79 have made their way to the Skydeck, and have travelled from as far away as New Zealand to participate. Elite stair climbers will compete for the top spot and try to break the record of 13:26 minutes set in 2005.
Some climb the Sears Tower for the pure challenge, some are cancer survivors, and many climb in memory of those lost to cancer or who are fighting the disease today. Last year’s sold out event raised more than $340,000 for young cancer scientists whose innovative research is at risk due to funding cuts at the national level.
Lorraine Egan, Executive Director of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation said, “Like participants of Go Vertical Chicago, young cancer researchers of today are audacious and determined, and this event is instrumental in enabling them to continue their discoveries of new ways to treat, prevent and diagnose cancer. We’ve expanded our participant count to cater for demand, and are already receiving widespread interest in this year’s event – from as far away as Vienna, and also from many Chicago locals.”
The entry fee for the Sears Tower stair climb is $35, plus a plus a guaranteed minimum of $55 in pledges. Climbers are encouraged to raise sponsorship through friends, family and colleagues. Participants can climb individually or as part of a team, and there are reduced entry fees for individuals working at the Sears Tower.
More information for Go Vertical Chicago will be available from the event website at the Go Vertical Chicago website..
About the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation:
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation invests exclusively in top young scientists, recruiting the best new minds into cancer research and seeding their bold ideas. The Foundation offers an alternative to programs supported by the NIH and large organizations, which typically favor senior scientists with established track records.
Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has invested over $200 million and funded more than 3,000 young scientists. Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, and others are heads of cancer centers and leaders of renowned research programs. The Foundation currently is funding more than 120 scientists at leading medical centers and research institutions. This year, it will invest approximately $10 million in outstanding young minds.
100% of all direct donations are used to support scientific research.
About Sears Tower
Sears Tower is the premier corporate office building in Chicago, offering more than 3.8 million square feet of office and retail space. Located in Chicago's West Loop at 233 S. Wacker Drive, the skyscraper is easily accessible by the commuter rail stations, highways and all forms of public transportation.
Standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall, Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and an integral part of Chicago’s culture. Originally opened in September 1973 as the corporate headquarters for Sears, Roebuck and Co., the building is now a multi-tenant office building, home to more than 100 different companies, including prominent financial services firms, law firms and insurance companies.
Many Sears Tower offices boast spectacular vistas of Chicago, with views that can reach nearly 50 miles on a clear day. Sears Tower also boasts tremendous infrastructure, which includes enormous telecommunications capacity and unsurpassed electrical capacity and reliability. The Sears Tower Skydeck on the 103rd floor attracts more than 1 million visitors per year.
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