Memorializing the firefighters and emergency service personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11, event participants will climb the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center at the 9^th annual Tri-Cities Memorial Stair Climb at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

Held on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 9, and timed to the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, the event already has 600-plus participants and more than 250 separate donations. Proceeds from fundraising during the event support families of local fallen firefighters and the New York City Fire Department’s counseling services unit and benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. 

One of the top-earning climbs in the country, the annual event features firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and the emergency medical services (EMS) community along with participants of varying backgrounds. Open to the public, spectators are encouraged to attend and encourage the climbers. By climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, each participant pays tribute to a firefighter who answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City. 

On-site registration for the event begins at 7 a.m. The opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m., followed by the climb at 9:30 a.m. Climbers will receive an honor badge and challenge coin. 

Each participant will have an opportunity within the event to ring a bell in honor of a fallen first responder. The stair climb is not a race and subsequently is not timed, as participants are encouraged to pace themselves. 

A limited number of event shirts will be available for purchase during the event. 

The event is sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Bristol, Keller Williams Realty, Food City, Eastman Credit Union and Hook & Ladder Moonshine. The organizing committee for the event includes first responders and other community members. Committee members who are City of Kingsport employees include Andrew Catron, Jared Lindholm, Jason Bledsoe, Eric Moyer, Caleb Sick and Danny Anderson. 

For the first five years of the event, it was hosted in Kingsport before moving to Bristol in 2020. 

To donate or for more information click here.