Hustle Chicago Stair Climb raises $800K for respiratory health and lung cancer research

CHICAGO (WGN) — At 94 stories and more than 1,600 steps into the air, the Hustle has transcended what many still call the Hancock Tower for more than 20 years.

“We’ve done this crazy thing for the past 23 years and it’s been freaking awesome,” said Steve Ferkau, a double-lung transplant recipient who is a constant presence at the Hustle Chicago Charity Stair Climb.

“I have cystic fibrosis and 25 years ago, I had a double lung transplant,” Ferkau said. “My life was saved by a beautiful girl from Iowa. Her name was Kari.”

“My mom and dad didn’t expect me to live beyond my teens and I’m 64-and-three-quarters,” Ferkau said. “I never would have made it that far if it weren’t for people like the people in the stairwells, events like this and money raised for research for problems I have.”

More than 2,000 people took part in this year’s climb, raising close to $800,000 in the process.

“People are out there in the stairwells from all different walks of life,” said Alex Rodriguez, digital communications coordinator with the Respiratory Health Association. “We have people who have had double lung transplants we have people whose kids live with asthma. We have people who are trying to advocate for clean air policies.

“Everything we do today is to make sure we have a brighter future tomorrow.”

Money raised at the event goes to respiratory health and lung cancer research, resources for long COVID and COVID-19 patients, and a program to get asthma rescue medications in Illinois Public Schools.

For more on the Respiratory Health Association and the Hustle Chicago Charity Stair Climb, visit their website online: https://resphealth.org/hustle-chicago-charity-stair-climb/