This is my third year in which I am participating in the Fight for Air Climb 2026 because my family history which has been affected by lung disease.
My father died from emphysema in 2001 and my mother had asthma most of her adult life finally losing the battle of lung cancer in 2011- both were heavy smokers for years. Each at the end of their lives had to fight to breathe every day for the rest of their life. It was a horrible experience to be their caregiver and watch every day the suffering they had to endure.
My aunt was also diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and never smoked a day in her life - but with my uncle's and parents secondhand smoke, she suffered in the end.
With the history of my family smoking, myself being an ex-smoker and being a third generation of family firefighters, the requirements were not as strict years ago as they are today to try and prevent lung disease and other illnesses from years of overhaul and firefighting procedures without the proper PPE. Hopefully, in my later years I will not suffer as my parents and aunt had.
