[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING BENJAMIN BRUNSVOLD, ANDREW DROBECK, AND BLAKE MEYERS

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                          HON. GREG GIANFORTE

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during National Blood 
Cancer Awareness Month, to honor firefighters Benjamin Brunsvold, 
Andrew Drobeck, and Blake Meyers who helped the Missoula Fire 
Department team finish first in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.
  The 2018 Scott Firefighter Stairclimb brought together 2,000 
firefighters from over 330 fire departments to compete. The stairclimb, 
which raised a record $2.61 million in 2018, benefits the Leukemia and 
Lymphoma Society (LLS) and its efforts in the fight against different 
types of blood cancer.
  The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb is the world's largest on-air stair 
climb competition. Held at the Columbia Center in Seattle, the 
competition features firefighters in full gear climbing 69 flights of 
stairs, or 788 feet.
  I congratulate Brunsvold, Drobeck, and Meyers who were the three top 
finishers for the Missoula Fire Department, helping it claim top team 
honors for the seventh consecutive year. Brunsvold finished third in 
the individual competition; Drobeck, a six-time individual winner, 
placed fourth; and Meyers finished 26th.
  I also commend the 77 Montana firefighters from 26 departments who 
took part in the 2018 challenge. With the support of their communities, 
they raised more than $97,500. Since 2009, Montana firefighters have 
raised more than $800,000 for LLS.
  While I congratulate Montana's outstanding firefighters for their 
performance, the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb is about raising 
awareness about blood cancer and raising needed resources for research 
and patient services.
  Josh Charles, a Bozeman firefighter and a Montana Ambassador for the 
Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, says, ``It's rewarding to know that fire 
departments across Montana have embraced the Scott Stairclimb, honoring 
the cause and the people affected by cancer who fight every day for 
normalcy. There's nothing better than when a patient or survivor says, 
`Thanks for helping me fight leukemia.' ''
  Mr. Speaker, for their excellence in training and performance, 
service in protecting our communities, and dedication that exceeds the 
call of duty, I recognize Benjamin Brunsvold, Andrew Drobeck, and Blake 
Meyers for their spirit of Montana.

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