CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Aug. 18, 2026) – Charlotte County Fire & EMS invites the public and first responders to participate in a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on Friday, Sept. 11, at Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte.
Participants will climb 343 stairs in honor of the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001. The event commemorates the 25th anniversary of the attacks and provides the community with an opportunity to remember all those whose lives were lost.
“This climb is more than a physical challenge; it is a promise that we will never forget,” said Charlotte County Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Matthew McElroy. “Each of the 343 stairs represents a firefighter who answered the call that morning and never returned home. We invite our community to climb alongside us as we honor their courage, sacrifice and legacy.”
Gates and event-day check-in will open at 7:30 a.m. An opening ceremony will be held from 8 to 8:30 a.m., followed by the stair climb from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Participants will begin climbing in groups at 15-minute intervals.
Registration is $40, plus applicable fees, and includes an event shirt and finisher medal. Proceeds will benefit CC Fire & EMS Benevolent Inc. Advance registration is required by Sept. 1. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and bunker gear is permitted.
To register and select a climb time, visit https://tinyurl.com/CCFEMSStairClimb.
Spectators are welcome. Charlotte Sports Park’s facility bag policy and permitted-items guidelines will apply.
For information, contact Ashley Turner at Ashley.Turner@CharlotteCountyFL.gov.
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