September 07, 2026 - 138 views
A North Wales firefighter has joined colleagues from across the world in a gruelling climb of the equivalent of the Twin Towers in one of the most powerful tributes to the emergency workers who died on 9/11.
On-call firefighter Joey, who serves with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday to take part in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
The event saw firefighters climb the equivalent of 110 storeys, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers, in memory of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives responding to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
This year's event has added significance as 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The Atlanta climb brought together firefighters from across the United States, the UK and other countries. Organisers say more than 1,200 US and international firefighters are taking part in the wider 2026 memorial event, with firefighters from more than 48 UK and Irish fire and rescue services represented.
The memorial climbs have become an important tradition within the international fire service. Participants climb around 2,200 steps, symbolically completing the journey undertaken by firefighters who raced into the World Trade Center to rescue those trapped inside.
The first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was held in Denver in 2005, when five firefighters climbed 110 floors in memory of their fallen colleagues. The event has since grown into a series of climbs held across the United States and internationally.
For Joey, taking part was both a physical challenge and a deeply personal act of remembrance.
He said: “I am immensely proud to have travelled to Atlanta to take part in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, it was a profound honour. Climbing those stairs in remembrance of the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day was both physically demanding and deeply moving.”
The climb is not simply about remembering those who died. Events organised through the memorial programme also help support firefighters and the families of fallen firefighters through programmes run by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and other organisations.
The 9/11 attacks killed almost 3,000 people, including 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who died while responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The consequences for the emergency services have continued long after that day, with firefighters and other first responders also suffering serious illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero.
Joey's participation means the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has been represented alongside firefighters from around the world in marking one of the defining moments in modern emergency service history.
And after completing the demanding 110-floor challenge, he has been praised for taking part in a remarkable tribute to the 343.
A huge well done to Joey on completing the challenge and helping to ensure their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.
